The Acting Provincial Commissioner in the Northern Cape, Major General Henriette De Waal welcomed the 135 year sentence handed down to 60-year-old Jan Swartz from Kamieskroon on 25 February 2021. She also sent a stern warning to perpetrators committing crimes against our women and children, that they will face the full might of the law as no stone will be left unturned when it comes to such heinous crimes.
This harsh sentence comes after the 17-year-old victim who was 11 at the time of the incidents, registered a rape case on 21 February 2019 following years of sexual abuse by the accused.
In 2009, when the victim was 11 years old, she was placed in the care of the accused and his wife. The accused would regularly rape the victim in the veld when they went collecting wood.
In January 2019, the victim could no longer hide the abuse and confided to a social worker. She was then removed from their custody and placed in a Place of Safety.
The accused was arrested and on 25 February 2021 he was sentenced as follows in the Calvinia Regional court:
Count 1 – Rape 10 years imprisonment
Count 2 – 25 years imprisonment
Count 3 – 25 years imprisonment
Count 4 – 25 years imprisonment
Count 5 – 25 years imprisonment
Count 6 – 25 years imprisonment. He received a total of 135 years and will be incarcerated for 35 years.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General De Waal applauded the Investigating officer, Warrant Officer Charl Blignaut, who is also the Brandvlei FCS unit commander for the meticulous investigation of the case which resulted in the incarceration of the perpetrator.
