LIMPOPO – The Lebowakgomo Regional Court, on Wednesday, convicted Khutso Phahlamohlaka (26) on a charge of rape.

The Limpopo Spokesperson for the Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Phahlamohlaka was a traditional dance teacher when the rape incident occurred.

“On 29 January 2017, the accused called an 18-year-old girl to the shop where he worked, to discuss the attire of the traditional dance. The complainant arrived at the shop at around 18:00 with her friend and sat in one of the rooms.”

Phahlamohlaka told the girl to fetch a soft drink and packet of chips in the storeroom, which was at the back of the house.

“The accused followed her to the storeroom where he produced a knife and rope. He then tied her neck and dragged her out to the bushes. While in the bushes, he cut her T-shirt and ordered the complainant to undress and raped her twice,” Malabi-Dzhangi explained.

She said Phahlamohlaka threatened the girl to not report the rape, however, she told her sister who then called the police.

“During the mitigation of sentence, the accused did not show any remorse. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Advocate, Mabasa Tsakeriwa Jackson presented the victim impact statement and pre-sentence report. He concluded by asking to the court to sentence the accused to life imprisonment as the victim was raped more than once.”

The Presiding Officer, Puni Modipane, agreed with the state and found that there were no compelling and substantial circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.