In an endeavour to ensure the building of safer communities, especially the safety of women and children, Lehurutshe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), secured a 45 years imprisonment against Othusitse Ernest Seleka (26).
Seleka was on Friday, 21 June 2019, found guilty and sentenced to 45 years direct imprisonment on two counts of rape and one of attempted rape and sentenced to 45 years direct imprisonment (a mandatory sentence term of 40 years).
In the first incident on Monday, 28 July 2014, at 17:50, it was reported that a 17 year old female was at a tuck shop in Motswedi village when Seleka friendly introduced himself and volunteered to walk her home. They were both walking and approaching a dry river bed when Seleka forced the girl into the dry river bed and threatened to stab her. The accused then threw the victim on the ground and raped her.
Seleka’s attempt to rape the victim for the second time was disturbed by some boys who came down the road next to the river. It was at that point that the victim managed to run away and later went back to the tuck shop to enquire about the identity of the suspect. The matter was ultimately reported to the police, who arrested the suspect shortly after the incident.
In another unrelated incident, Seleka broke and gained entrance into a house in Motswedi village on Sunday, 28 December 2014. The court heard that the accused was inside the house when a 64 year old woman woke up and found Seleka in the passage. He was just about to rape the woman when she screamed. The woman’ son came out of his room and managed to arrest the accused.
In a third separate incident on Friday, 13 November 2015, Seleka used the same modus operandi as in the first incident at the tuck-shop. He introduced himself to the 16 year old minor as Ernest, then took her the to the dry river bed and repeatedly raped her for more than six hours. After the ordeal, the accused gave the victim R50, 00 note and promised to buy her a pair of “All Star” takkies before telling her not to report the matter.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
