Man gets life for rape of 13-year-old in Gilead area
Prosecutors told the Limpopo court that being a first-time offender was no excuse, since it was also the first time the child had suffered such a violation.
LIMPOPO – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentencing of a 28-year-old man to life imprisonment by the Mahwelereng Regional Court for the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The man’s identity has been withheld to protect the victim from further trauma.
Girl taken to accused’s home, assaulted
The accused had pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that on September 20, 2024, in the Gilead area near Mahwelereng, he encountered the girl while she was on her way to a shop, took her to his home, and raped her.
The incident later came to light after the girl’s family found evidence linking him to her, and she disclosed what had happened to her mother and aunt. They reported the matter to police, leading to his arrest.
Prosecutor: Being a first offender should not help his case
In aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor Takalani Mboyi argued that rape remains a persistent crime despite tough sentencing, and submitted that the accused being a first-time offender was not a mitigating factor, given it was also the first time the child had suffered such a violation.
The State argued that no substantial or compelling circumstances existed to justify a lesser sentence.
Court says accused took advantage of a vulnerable child
In its judgment, the court said sexual offences have a devastating impact on women and children, and that those who violate the rights of vulnerable people must face the full force of the law.
It found the accused had exploited the child’s innocence and vulnerability, and that nothing put forward in mitigation warranted a departure from the prescribed sentence.
NPA says it will keep fighting sexual offences
“All cases of sexual violence infringe on the constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, and bodily integrity of victims. The NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to aggressively prosecuting sexual offences and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions,” said Limpopo director of public prosecutions Adv Ivy Thenga.
The NPA said it remained committed to protecting the rights of women and children and to pursuing the toughest penalties against offenders in cases of sexual violence.
