Meet Constable Lesedi Motshegoa of Germiston’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, who recently secured three life sentences in rape cases.

These convictions showcase her dedication to justice and protecting vulnerable victims in the area.

Her law enforcement journey began when she joined the SAPS in the 2019 training intake. After six months of training and induction, she was placed at the Germiston SAPS and assigned to the FCS Unit in 2020.

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Originally from Mahikeng in the North West, in a small village called Siberia, Motshegoa has steadily risen to become a household name at the station.

Like her father, an officer in Mahikeng, she says policing is not just a job but a calling.

In a media interview, she expressed her passion for the work.

“I love being a police officer and helping the vulnerable get some sense of justice. In this line of work, you need to be mentally strong because of the things you hear and see. I visit mortuaries and attend post-mortems. It’s not easy, but necessary,” said Motshegoa.

Her compassion for children is long-standing. Before joining the SAPS, she volunteered at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.

Cases that required persistence
Motshegoa says her recent convictions were the result of painstaking work and evidence-driven investigation.

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One case, reported to the Germiston SAPS in September 2022, involved a 15-year-old girl. The incident came to light after a teacher noticed behavioural changes and spoke privately with the learner.

The school immediately called the mother, and a case of rape was reported to the police against the now convicted 58-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor.

The victim’s mother worked for him, often sending her daughter to deliver laundry to his house. It was during one of these visits that he lured the teenager inside and raped her.

Motshegoa opposed bail, but the court granted it with strict conditions: He was required to move away from the complex where he and the victim lived.

Although the accused had no previous convictions, through Motshegoa’s diligence and persistence, the evidence held firm in court, contributing to a conviction and a life sentence.

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In a case reported to the Primrose SAPS in October 2022, a nine-year-old girl was playing with her friend at the home of the friend’s uncle.

He offered the children sweets and invited them into the house, where he gave them a cellphone to watch videos and play games. Later, he called the victim into the room, where he pulled up her dress and raped her.

Motshegoa ensured DNA swabs were taken from the child.

“The minor was able to testify behind closed doors, providing enough evidence for a conviction,” said Motshegoa.

“The third case included a conviction of life imprisonment in a case involving a man repeatedly raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter.

“After raping her several times in different areas of residence, he was finally arrested when the family moved to Germiston.”

ALSO READ: Life sentence for 63-year-old in granddaughter rape case

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. The evidence submitted convinced the magistrate to find the stepfather guilty and sentence him to life imprisonment,” said Motshegoa.