A rapist was slapped with life sentenced for raping and assaulting a minor girl near Giyani. Picture credit: Supplied
By Montsho Matlala
Giyani: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo has welcomed the life imprisonment imposed recently on a 38 year old man convicted by the Giyani Magistrate Court for raping a minor girl who is his neighbour.
The identity of the man who also repeatedly slapped the 14 year old with open hands at Mbaula village would not be disclosed to protect the identity of the minor.
“The accused was also sentenced to additional six months imprisonment for assaulting the victim. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that his name be put in the National Register for Sexual Offenders,” said NPA provincial spokesperson Mashudu Malabi.
The court heard, the rapist accosted the girl and made sexual advances but she refused. He then forcibly grabbed her by hand and dragged her to his friend’s house at Mbaula village where he raped her.
However the accused pleaded not guilty and showed no remorse throughout the trial but the evidence against him was sufficient.
In aggravation of the sentence, state prosecutor Tumelo Maumela submitted evidence from the victim’s mother indicating how the rape incident had affected her whole family. The sexual assault had also damaged trust and relationships between the two families as they are neighbours.
Maumela added in court, “The accused had a previous conviction of assault with intend to do grievous boldly harm. Moreover there are no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify deviating from the prescribed minimum sentences of rape. The rights of children must be protected from any incident of violence.”
