A 46 year -old man from Thambo Village in Dennilton, has been sentenced to three life terms of imprisonment after being convicted of raping two eight year old girls.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence, saying it delivers justice for the victims and their families. The accused’s identity was withheld to protect the identities of the child victims and prevent further victimization.
The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, evidence presented during the trial proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court heard that on 2 November 2024, the two girls went to the accused’s home to ask for magazines for a school project. The accused told them to wash dirty dishes in exchange for the magazines.
He then instructed one of the girls to go outside and threatened to assault the other with a sjambok if she refused to comply with his demands. He raped her and later called the second victim into the house, where he raped her twice.
After the incident, the victims informed their sister, who reported the matter to the police. The accused was arrested and the victims were taken for medical examinations.
During sentencing, State Prosecutor Sifiso Miya submitted a Victim Impact Report and a pre-sentence report to the court. The reports showed the serious psychological and emotional harm suffered by the young victims as a result of the offences.
The State argued that the accused violated the children’s constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, freedom and security. It further submitted that the offences were serious and that the accused posed a danger to society. The prosecution asked the court to impose the harshest sentence to protect vulnerable children.
Welcoming the sentence, Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga said the outcome ensured justice for the victims and removed a dangerous offender from society.
She also condemned violence and sexual abuse against women and children and praised the prosecution and investigation teams for their work in securing the conviction and sentence. The NPA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual offences are held accountable for their actions.
It said it would continue working with its criminal justice partners to ensure victims receive the protection, support and justice they deserve.
