Tebogo Tshegodikae (23) was handed down a 20 year prison sentence after raping a 13- year-girl and attempting to rape a 15-year-old female girl in two unrelated incidents in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
The first case occurred on 15 March 2014, when the 13-year-old female victim who was accompanied by a friend when they were returning from church in Budolong at 24:30 when they were approached by the accused. The friend however managed to escape but not the victim. The 13-year-old victim was accosted, threatened and raped at knife point by the accused.
The suspect was arrested on 16 March 2014, by Warrant Officer Keitumetse Semetsa who diligently and professionally investigated the case.
The second unrelated incident took place on 19 July 2015, at 16:40 when the 15-year-old female victim went to collect wood in the veld in the Bankara village area.
The victim was accosted and threatened with a knife by the accused who tried to undress and rape her. She managed to defend herself and alerted community members who were in the area. The accused was arrested on the same day by Captain Karin Nel.
Further investigations indicated that Tebogo Tshegodikae was linked to both cases and appeared before the Kuruman Magistrates’ court on 18 June 2020 on charges of rape and attempted rape.
The accused, Tebogo Tshegodikae was found guilty and sentenced on the same day to twenty years imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be recorded in the sexual offense register.
The Provincial Head for FCS in the Northern Cape, Brigadier Nicky Mills, applauded Captain Karin Nel the Unit Commander of Kuruman FCS and Warrant Officer Semetsa for their commitment and thorough investigation of both cases.
The District Commissioner of J TG District, Major General Johan Bean also commended the officers for their sterling investigations which led to the removal of a perpetrator of gender based violence from society. These heinous crimes against vulnerable victims will not be tolerated in the John Taola Gaetsewe district.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
