Johannesburg - A child rapist was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mount Mount Fletcher Regional Court.
The 27-year-old, Lebohang Mphamela, was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl on January 16, 2022, in Mlumbe, in the district of Mount Fletcher.
According to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), the victim was alone at her home while her grandmother was attending a traditional ceremony (umgidi) in the same village on the day of the rape incident.
The delivery of this judgment coincided with Minister Bheki Cele’s quarterly crime statistics, which revealed that children and women were being raped and killed in terrifying numbers.
Cele said over 10 000 rape cases were opened with the SAPS between July and September this year. He stated that more than 5 083 rape incidents, or 62%, occurred at the victims' or perpetrators' homes.
"The crime statistics again show that we as communities continue to fail to protect some of the most vulnerable in society: our children," Cele said.
It is reported that Mphamela arrived at the home and told the girl that her grandmother sent him to invite her to the same ceremony. The young girl, not suspecting anything, left with the suspect, as they were known to one another. On the way, however, Mphamela convinced her to go to his house to fetch his jacket as it was getting late.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said upon arrival at his home, Mphamela forced the victim onto his bed.
"Upon arrival at his home, Mphamela overpowered the girl, threw her on his bed, and raped her. He threatened her with death should she tell anyone about the rape. However, the victim reported to her grandmother, leading to his arrest," Tyali said.
Tyali said the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape, even with damning evidence against him.
"During the trial, Mphamela pleaded not guilty, but advocate Bongeka Honono led the evidence of the victim and the grandmother. The prosecutor argued that the court should not deviate from the prescribed sentence and that the court sent a clear message to rapists and would-be rapists that the justice system is not tolerant of their evil actions against children and vulnerable people in society. Magistrate Msiswa Mjame found no substantive and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence as prayed for by the state," Tyali said.
Following this judgment, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo commended the prosecutor and the investigating officer for ensuring that the case was swiftly dealt with.
The Star