A 33-year-old mother and her 36-year-old boyfriend have been sentenced to multiple life terms in prison by the Bloemfontein Regional Court following convictions for the rape, sexual exploitation, and assault of three young girls.
The 36-year-old boyfriend received three life sentences for rape. The 33-year-old mother was sentenced to three life terms for rape, 20 years for sexual exploitation, and three years for common assault. Both offenders have been declared unfit to possess firearms, prohibited from working with children, and their details will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The convictions follow an investigation by the Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. According to court proceedings, the abuse began on November 17, 2023, at a residence in Bergman Square, Bloemspruit. The mother left her 14-year-old daughter at the boyfriend’s home, where he prepared a meal and subsequently raped the sleeping teenager repeatedly. When the mother returned the following morning, she dismissed the victim’s account of the assault.
The court further heard that the mother later orchestrated the sexual abuse of her 11-year-old daughter and 10-year-old niece by the boyfriend, and witnessed at least one of the assaults firsthand.
The crimes were uncovered when the victims’ 30-year-old uncle discovered the abuse and immediately reported it to the Bloemspruit Police. The cases of rape, sexual exploitation, and common assault were initially registered locally before being transferred to the Mangaung FCS Unit. Detective Sergeant Nthabiseng Ranthako led the investigation and, in close consultation with National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Prosecutor Cwele, successfully traced and apprehended both suspects.
Free State Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia condemned the actions of the biological mother and her boyfriend, characterizing the crimes as a severe betrayal of trust and maternal protection.
Lesia commended Detective Sergeant Ranthako and the NPA prosecuting team for their work in securing the convictions. He noted that the heavy sentences permanently remove the perpetrators from society and send a clear message that the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable children will not be tolerated.
