Tebogo Msimanga |
North Gauteng High court sentenced two accused, aged 27 and 32, to life imprisonment each for rape. The accused gang-raped the then 14-year-old minor in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 25 December 2019, at Letlhabile near Brits in North West province.
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani of North West Police said it was reported during the court proceedings that the minor victim and her male friend were walking home at about 04:00 after attending a music festival when confronted by four suspicious males. “One of the males grabbed the victim and took her to nearby bushes, where he and one of his companions took turns in raping her”.
Funani added that they then compelled the victim’s male friend to rape her. “Upon realising that the friend was only pretending to be raping his friend, the accused assaulted him until he acted as if he was unconscious”. The two accused then continued to rape the victim. The third male, aged 26, left the scene with the victim’s cell phone. The accused further robbed other festival attendees of their valuables including cell phones.
After investigations into the robbery as well as the rape of the minor, the three accused were also found in possession of the minor victim’s cell phone and clothes. Moreover, the two accused, aged 27 and 32, were linked to the rape through the DNA results. “One of the four accused was eventually released as he could not be linked with the crimes”.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment One count of common robbery.North West Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the Brits Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for securing two life sentences in one week.
