The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing of a 44-year-old man convicted of raping two minor boys, aged eight and nine at the time of the incident.
The Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence on Friday, 27 June 2025, after finding the accused guilty of the heinous crimes committed in November 2014.
Details of the Crime
The court heard that on 16 November 2014, the two young victims were playing on the grass at the accused’s homestead when he lured them into his bedroom, locked the door, and raped them. After the assault, he gave each child R5 to silence them and prevent them from reporting the incident.
The parents later noticed that the children were moving strangely and struggling to sit properly. Upon questioning, the traumatized boys revealed what had happened, prompting the parents to report the matter to the SAPS Matlala.
Investigation and Trial
The case docket was transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit in Seshego, where Sergeant Phineas Ngoepe conducted a meticulous investigation that ultimately secured the conviction.
The accused was formally charged on 21 September 2016 after returning home from Gauteng Province. He was served with summons to appear in court on 18 September 2017. After a lengthy legal process, he was found guilty in August 2023 and remained in custody until his sentencing this week.
Sentence Handed Down
The Senwabarwana Regional Court imposed the following sentences:
-
Count 1 (Rape): 20 years imprisonment
-
Count 2 (Attempted Rape): 15 years imprisonment
The court ruled that the sentence for Count 2 would run concurrently with Count 1, meaning the convict will serve an effective 20 years behind bars.
