A Kathu-based detective has been recognized for exemplary investigative work that resulted in the successful prosecution of a rape case, culminating in an eight-year prison sentence for the convicted perpetrator.
Detective Constable Pako Bele, attached to the Kathu Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, received commendation from Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, Acting District Commissioner of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, for his thorough handling of the matter.
The recognition follows the Tuesday, 26 May 2026, sentencing of 21-year-old Randy Jacobus Leeuw by the Regional Court in Kathu. Leeuw was found guilty of rape and received an eight-year imprisonment term, with two years suspended conditionally for five years.
Court evidence established that on Saturday, 11 May 2024, at approximately 19:00, Leeuw encountered the 25-year-old victim at a tavern in Deben. After the victim declined his proposal for a romantic relationship, the accused later re-approached her, forcibly dragged her outside the establishment into nearby dark bushes, pushed her to the ground, and committed rape.
The assault was interrupted when a man known to the victim passed by and intervened, enabling her to receive assistance and prompting the accused to flee the scene. The incident was reported to police, and an assault case was registered and assigned to Detective Constable Bele for investigation.
Brigadier Baloyi highlighted Detective Constable Bele’s professionalism and meticulous investigative approach as critical factors in securing accountability for the crime.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court declared Randy Jacobus Leeuw unfit to possess a firearm and directed that his details be recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The outcome underscores the South African Police Service’s ongoing commitment to addressing gender-based violence and ensuring that sexual offence perpetrators face appropriate legal consequences.
