KEY POINTS
- Former SANDF was sentenced to 20-years for rape.
- Mashile operated as the base guard who observed the teenager before committing the crime.
- The DNA test revealed the evidence for solving the crime.
A previous member of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) received a 20-year sentence following his conviction for raping a teenage girl who was fifteen.
A Port Nolloth Regional Court sentenced Peace Mashile (35 years old) after she served at the Alexander Bay within the Inggreas Avenue Army Base of the Northern Cape.
Details of the rape
According to NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane Mashile operated as the base guard who observed the teenager both when she arrived and departed from school every day.
Senokoatase said Mashile sneaked into the bedroom through a window during nighttime on December 9th to attack the sleeping girl with her cousin.
The accused placed his cold hands on the victim while she was sleeping then Mashile began touching her which caused the victim to wake up and see the accused on top of her. The accused placed his hand over her mouth while she tried to scream.
He restrained the victim until she passed out from choking her because she tried to prevent him from keeping his hand over her mouth. According to Senokoatsane the accused committed rape beside the victim who shared the bed with her cousin.
The victim proceeded to inform her mother immediately after Mashile departed about the incident and the appearance of Mashile when the rape occurred.
The victim’s mother experienced such a strange dream when her sleeping cousin reported feeling nothing during the time she slept next to the victim. During that night the victim shared the bed with her mother until morning arrived. According to Senokoatsane the victim told everyone in the morning about the sexual assault experienced at the hands of the accused.
The victim’s mother located Mashile’s sleeping garments when visiting her room before handing the matter over to SANDF officials who wanted to handle it internally but the mother demanded the police to investigate.
DNA evidence
DNA tests performed on the clothing worn by the victim confirmed that the perpetrator was responsible for the attack. The trial started with the defendant declaring his innocence as he attempted an artificial defense which was discarded after a detailed forensic prosecution process “Senokoatsane stated.
State prosecutor Basil Kock presented aggravated factors emphasizing that Mashile held a position of trust before breaching the victim’s dignity and betraying the faith put in him by family members and his employer as well as by society at large.
