Key Points
- A man received a life sentence for raping his elderly grandmother in Kagung Village, Northern Cape.
- The Thuthuzela Care Centre helped re-enroll the case after DNA-related delays.
- The man had a previous rape conviction and faces another pending charge.
Community in Shock Over Heinous Crime
MOTHIBISTAD, South Africa — A man from Kagung Village raped his 72-year-old grandmother and now faces a life sentence. The Mothibistad Regional Court handed down the verdict, which has deeply shaken the Northern Cape community.
At the time of the attack in 2020, the man, then 29, lived with the victim. She had raised him from infancy. This Northern Cape rape sentencing has drawn widespread outrage from the local community and beyond.
Details of the Incident
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the elderly woman was bathing in her bedroom. She used the same water the accused had previously used for a herbal bath. The man then entered her bedroom and raped her. He later told the court that he acted on a sudden urge.
Despite needing a walking stick, the victim fled the scene. She immediately ran to a neighbor for help. Police responded quickly and arrested the man shortly afterward.
Doctors examined the woman and confirmed internal injuries. She was bleeding even though she was post-menopausal. During her testimony, she said she struggled to walk and endured severe pain after the attack.
Legal Proceedings and Support
The court initially struck the case off the roll in 2021 due to delayed DNA results. However, the Kuruman Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) continued to offer her regular psychological support.
“The TCC stayed involved throughout,” said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, NPA regional spokesperson. “They checked on her consistently and ensured she received the mental health care she needed.”
Eventually, authorities re-enrolled the case after receiving the necessary forensic evidence.
Court Sentencing and Prior Convictions
During sentencing, Prosecutor Bernice Bronkhorst-Oor stressed that the accused lied in court and showed no remorse. She urged the court to remove him from society for public safety.
The court agreed and rejected his version of events as implausible. Judges ruled that no compelling reasons existed to deviate from the prescribed life sentence.
Authorities also declared the man unfit to own a firearm or work with older persons. They added his name to the National Register for Sex Offenders.
This Northern Cape rape sentencing also revealed his disturbing criminal history. In 2008, he committed a rape while still a minor. The court issued a wholly suspended sentence for that offense in 2015. Currently, he remains in custody for another pending rape case. In that incident, he allegedly attacked a friend’s girlfriend after a night out at a tavern.
NPA Statement on Sexual Violence
“All cases of sexual violence infringe upon victims’ rights to dignity and privacy, as protected by the Constitution,” said Senokoatsane. “The NPA remains committed to prosecuting these crimes aggressively.”
He added, “Successful convictions like this offer justice and closure to victims and help make our communities safer.”
