The effort to fight serious and violent crime against women and children has yielded positive results when a man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his 18 year old niece. This sentence comes in a period where the country is commemorating the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
The accused, Keobakile Gilbert Petrus (32) was found guilty and sentenced on 5 December 2019, at Mothibistad Regional Court.
The victim visited her uncle, Petrus in Batlharos and was requested to sleep over as it was late to take a taxi back home. Petrus raped the victim twice on the same night and the following morning threatened to kill the woman if she ever told anyone.
The victim told her boyfriend who then reported the matter to the police and Petrus was arrested and granted bail.
Provincial Commissioner of Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Risimati Peter Shivuri has welcomed the sentence and applauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Kenalemang Victoria Babeile for a meticulous investigation.
“The sentence will not heal the emotional scars left on the victim but it will sure send a message to other perpetrators who think they have a right to violate women that the arm of the law is long and will always prevail”.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
