Germiston officer secures life sentence for man who raped stepdaughter
Through dedication and persistence, Germiston SAPS officer Lesedi Motshegoa helped secure a life sentence for a man who repeatedly assaulted his teenage stepdaughter.
Constable Lesedi Brilliant Motshegoa of the Germiston SAPS demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to justice by securing life imprisonment in a case involving a 53-year-old man repeatedly raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter.
The case reached Constable Motshegoa’s desk after the victim’s mother opened a rape case against her then partner at the Germiston Police Station in 2023.
Through tireless investigation, persistence, and attention to detail, Motshegoa ensured thorough handling of the case and brought it to a successful close, resulting in the perpetrator being sentenced to jail.
Motshegoa’s efforts highlight the crucial role of diligent police work in protecting vulnerable members of society and ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are held accountable.
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Motshegoa said that during her investigations, she discovered that the victim was raped numerous times before the opening of the case.
“The first incident occurred while the victim’s mother had travelled to her home in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Motshegoa.
“During her absence, the stepfather invited the child to sleep on the bed, as she usually slept on the floor. Since the mother was away, there was space available on the bed. Once she was on the bed, he began touching her inappropriately before sexually assaulting her,” said Motshegoa.
“The incident took place at their residence in Driehoek on November 16, 2019,” said Motshegoa.
The abuse did not end there. Motshegoa said the accused assaulted the victim again while her mother was at home, but asleep. This incident occurred after the family had moved to Malvern.
“After each assault, the suspect would threaten the child not to tell anyone, warning her he would beat her if she spoke out.
“He raped her twice more after the family relocated to Germiston,” said Motshegoa.
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Motshegoa informed the NEWS that the victim’s cousin had noticed a sudden change in the girl’s behaviour and attitude.
Concerned, the cousin spoke to her privately, and the victim eventually confided in her about the abuse.
The cousin then reported the matter to the child’s mother, who opened a case at the Germiston SAPS.
The case was later assigned to Motshegoa of the Germiston Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
To strengthen the case, Motshegoa said she arranged for the victim to undergo a medical examination, which confirmed signs of severe physical injury consistent with sexual abuse.
“Following the suspect’s initial arrest, he was denied bail,” said Motshegoa.
“The victim was referred to the Boksburg Kidz Clinic for evaluation and declared fit to testify in court.
“While in custody awaiting trial, the suspect attempted to contact the victim’s mother to persuade her to withdraw the charges.
Our investigation revealed that the calls originated from a number traced to the area around Windmill Park, near Boksburg Prison, where the suspect was detained.
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“The evidence submitted to the court convinced the magistrate to find the stepfather guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment on October 23,” said Motshegoa.
District commissioner Major General Anna Sithole commended Motshegoa for her exceptional commitment and diligence in handling the case, praising her for ensuring justice for the young victim.
