A 34-year-old man was sentenced to two consecutive life terms by the Bothaville Regional Court on Friday, 29 May 2026, after being found guilty on two counts of raping his minor stepdaughter.
The Free State Police welcomed the verdict, emphasizing that the sentence underscores the justice system’s commitment to holding perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) accountable, regardless of when the crimes were committed.
According to court documents and police statements, the assaults occurred in 2017 and 2018 while the victim was a primary school learner. In the first incident in 2017, the victim returned home from school to find her stepfather with friends. When she went to her bedroom to change, the suspect followed, forced her onto the bed, and raped her. He then threatened to evict both her and her mother from the home if she disclosed the assault.
The abuse was repeated in 2018 under similar circumstances. Once again, the perpetrator used the threat of homelessness to silence the victim.
The case came to light when the accused voluntarily walked into the Bothaville police station and confessed to raping someone. He provided details of the assaults and led officers to his residence, where authorities located the victim, now 17 years old. During a formal interview, the victim confirmed that the rapes had occurred during her childhood.
Following her statement, a case was officially opened and the suspect was arrested immediately. The docket was assigned to Constable Malearongwa Mokoena of the Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, who conducted a thorough investigation and compiled critical evidence.
Working in close coordination with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), represented by State Prosecutor Mrs. Lebitsa, investigators secured a conviction based on the corroborated testimony and physical evidence.
The Bothaville Regional Court found the accused guilty on both counts of rape and imposed a life sentence for each offense. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
In a statement, the Free State Police affirmed that this outcome serves as a clear warning to all perpetrators of sexual violence: the law will pursue justice without leniency, and positions of trust will not shield offenders from accountability.
Support services remain available for survivors of gender-based violence through the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, and accredited civil society organizations.
