Text on image: eMalahleni soccer coach faces sentencing for sexual offences against children

Soccer coach Edwin Soko is expected to be sentenced in the eMalahleni Regional Court today (September 17) after being found guilty of child molestation charges stemming from incidents in late 2023, reports Witbank News.

This follows the 43-year-old’s appearance on August 18, when the court reserved sentence after hearing arguments from both the defence attorney and the prosecutor.

Community calls for harsh sentence

Gender-based violence activist and All Voices Matter founder Abongile Mcoki, who has followed the case, called for a stern outcome.

“I have been following the case closely,” said Mcoki. “The court has convicted him of child molestation charges involving minors who were entrusted to him as a soccer coach. This is a serious breach of trust.”

“Therefore, as All Voices Matter, we expect the court to impose a very harsh sentence, not a slap on the wrist,” she added. “The sentence must be severe enough to reflect the gravity of the offence and to make an example that our community has zero tolerance for the abuse of children.”

Convicted on 9 counts

Soko was found guilty on all nine counts laid against him, including sexual exploitation, sexual grooming and sexual assault of boys aged between eight and 13 at the time of the incidents in September and October 2023.

He has since remained in custody.

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