Serial rapist sentenced to three life terms
Andries Fenyane (43) pleaded guilty and said he committed these offences due to having been previously arrested based on a false accusation of rape.
A 43-year-old serial rapist was sentenced to three life terms for three counts of rape involving minor children.
Andries Fenyane was also given an additional sentence of 10 years direct imprisonment for the rape of an adult woman and six years for abduction.
The judgment was delivered by the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the court ordered that all sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment.
Mahanjana said Fenyane has been declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be posted to the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
She added that the court proceedings revealed shocking details about Fenyane’s actions.
“On October 6, 2014, he entered the home where a four-year-old minor was staying with her grandmother,” said Mahanjana.
“When the grandmother stepped outside to fetch water, Fenyane sneaked in through a different entrance, kidnapped the child and raped her, leaving her naked not far from her home.”
Mahanjana said another horrifying incident occurred on November 15, 2017, when Fenyane approached a house where two 13-year-old girls were sleeping.
She said he lay between them and when they awoke and began screaming, he threatened them with a knife and then proceeded to rape them.
“On December 26, 2017, at about 21:00, he broke into the home of a 33-year-old woman who was with her four-year-old son,” Mahanjna said.
He had demanded that she fry him eggs for his lunch box, which he took with him when he left, then raped the woman in the presence of the son.
“Fenyane was arrested on April 23, 2018, when DNA evidence linked him to the crimes.”
She said that Fenyane has been in custody since.
Mahanjane said he pleaded guilty and said he committed these offences due to having been previously arrested on a false accusation of rape.
“However, during sentencing, he asked the court to consider imposing a sentence of correctional supervision due to his ill health,” she said.
State Prosecutor Advocate Danisile Maphoso, told the court that Fenyane committed serious offences of rape, which is humiliating, degrading and brutally invaded the privacy and dignity of his victims.
Maphoso said moreover, Fenyane raped the victims in the comfort of their own homes.
She added that he targeted children and women who lived alone.
“Moreover, Fenyane showed no remorse for his actions, he simply pleaded guilty because the state had overwhelming evidence against him,” said Maphoso.
Maphoso asked the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment in respect to the rape charges.
She also handed in a Victim Impact Report, facilitated by a social worker from the Department of Social Development, revealing that one victim now lives with the consequences of HIV infection due to the rape.
The Magistrate concurred with the prosecution’s assessment, noting Fenyane’s lack of remorse.
He said that Fenyane’s motive appeared to be vindictive, inflicting harm on the most vulnerable members of society.
“Thus, there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to warrant a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.”
The NPA welcomed the sentencing, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence and ensuring that all perpetrators of sexual offences face the full extent of the law.
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