The Thabazimbi Regional Court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for raping his 28-year-old cousin in December 2022.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred in the early hours of 17 December 2022, when the victim was asleep with her two-year-old child at her home in Regorogile Extension 3, under the Thabazimbi policing area. The accused, her cousin, unlawfully entered her room, sexually assaulted her, and fled the scene.
Through meticulous investigative work, Warrant Officer Dereck Masonto of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit tracked down the suspect, leading to his arrest on 21 December 2022. The investigating officer successfully opposed bail, ensuring the accused remained in custody until his trial concluded.
On Tuesday, 21 May 2025, the Thabazimbi Regional Court handed down a 15-year prison sentence. Additionally, the court ordered that the convict’s name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders.
