In its resolve to fight crimes against women and children, the expertise and specialised training of our Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) is critical in ensuring that perpetrators of rape and sexual abuse are arrested and sent to prison.
On Monday, 25 April 2022, a 22-year-old Bethelsdorp man was sentenced in the Gqeberha Regional court for rape, kidnapping and assault of two women in 2018.
On 9 July 2018, the accused Renaldo Boesak (18 at the time) was drinking with the two victims and friends at a house in 7de Laan in Booyesens Park.
At 04:00, he took the victims aged 22 and 25 years old to a caravan which was situated in the same yard. He threatened them with a firearm and was accused of also firing shots in the yard. Both women were raped. The 22-year-old victim was also assaulted with the firearm.
On 13 July 2018, Boesak was arrested by the investigating officer, D/Sgt Nomfundiso Vazi from the FSC unit in Gqeberha. He remained in custody until the finalisation of his case.
On 25 April 2022, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on both rape charges, 10 years for two charges of kidnapping and 6 months for assault. The kidnapping and the assault convictions will run concurrent with the life sentence.
Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso welcomed the sentencing while expressing her concern on how women are being violated by people they know and trust. ‘Violence and the abuse of women must be exposed and victims are encouraged to blow the whistle on perpetrators in order to restore dignity to themselves and to protect other women against abuse. I commend the sterling work of the FCS units who are ensuring that gender based violence cases are thoroughly investigated and perpetrators arrested and sentenced,’ added Brig Kupiso.
