MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR RAPING MINOR IN OLIFANTSFONTEIN

Sergeant Kolobe Amia Kwenaite from the Tembisa Family Violence, Child Protection Service, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit has been praised for her exemplary work in securing a substantial prison sentence for Tshepiso Mokoena (40).

The Tembisa Magistrate Court recently handed down a life sentence plus an additional 12 months’ imprisonment to Mokoena for the grievous crimes of raping and kidnapping a minor child.

The appalling incident occurred on February 10, 2019, in Olifantsfontein. The young victim was on her way home from playing when the perpetrator lured her by asking her to collect a toy gun and a doll for her sibling. Trusting the accused, the child followed him, unaware that she was walking into a dangerous situation. Upon their arrival, Mokoena assaulted and raped the minor.

Following the assault, the traumatized child managed to escape the perpetrator’s shack, fleeing while in distress. She was discovered by her mother, who immediately noticed her child’s distress and physical condition. The child, found not wearing underwear and bleeding heavily, was rushed to the hospital, where it was revealed that she had sustained severe injuries to her private area.

Community members, alerted by the incident, located the suspect hiding in nearby bushes, leading to his subsequent arrest.

During the court proceedings, despite the suspect pleading not guilty, Sergeant Kwenaite diligently presented a comprehensive set of evidence linking the accused to the heinous crime.