A Limpopo man has been sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment in the Sibasa Regional Court for the rape of his neighbour.
The 59-year-old man cannot be identified to protect the 71-year-old woman’s identity and prevent secondary victimisation.
During the trial, the man pleaded not guilty to rape.
The court heard that in 2019, after the man observed the woman returning home from a bus stop, he followed her into her home. He went to her bedroom and a struggle ensued before he raped her.
Severe trauma
After the incident, the distraught woman sought medical assistance at a nearby clinic and was referred to the Tshilidzini Thuthuzela Care Centre for further care and support. The matter was reported to the police, leading to the man’s arrest and prosecution.
During sentencing proceedings, State Prosecutor Muligi Mphedziseni Eric argued for the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, submitting that the woman qualified as an older person in terms of the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006.
The State further argued that the woman was raped in the sanctity of her home, a place where she should have felt safe and secure.
The prosecution emphasised the severe trauma suffered by the woman at the hands of a person she knew and trusted as a neighbour.
Sentencing
The State further submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.
After considering all the evidence and arguments before it, the court sentenced the man to 22 years’ direct imprisonment.
The court also ordered that the man’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and said the outcome demonstrates the NPA’s unwavering commitment to securing justice for victims of gender-based violence and protecting vulnerable members of society.
