By Montsho Matlala
Groblersdal – The Groblersdal Regional Court in Limpopo on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old Mozambican national to life imprisonment for assaulting a woman and raping her daughter.
The court heard that King Petrus Chauke and two unidentified accomplices broke into a woman’s home in Dennilton, outside Groblersdal, three years ago.
Armed with a firearm, they demanded money and bank cards, tied up the woman and her 13-year-old daughter, and left one accomplice to guard them while Chauke and another man attempted to withdraw cash.
When their attempt failed, they returned and brutally assaulted and stabbed the woman.
Chauke then dragged the young girl into nearby bushes, where he raped her overnight before fleeing.
Although Chauke denied the charges after his arrest, DNA evidence linked him directly to the crimes.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzangi confirmed that Chauke received an additional 17 years for related charges, including rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, and being in the country illegally. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
In aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor Advocate Sifiso Miya presented a victim impact report and pre-sentence report detailing the severe psychological and emotional trauma suffered by the victims.
The prosecution argued that Chauke’s conduct demonstrated a danger to society and justified permanent removal through imprisonment.
