The Sasolburg High Court sentenced Tshepo Lethebe, a 19-year-old young adult, to 15 years in prison for raping a 21-year-old physically challenged victim in 2021.
According to the police, on the day of the incident, the accused entered the victim’s house and dragged her to his place, where he began undressing and raping her.
“After raping her, he fell asleep next to the victim. The victim got up, dressed herself, and ran away to ask for help. The accused was arrested the same day by Sergeant Sara Maleka and attended trial until he was sentenced on 08 August 2024,” police revealed.
South Africa holds a specific penalty enhancement through mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for sexual offences perpetrated against victims with disabilities.
According to the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, rape and compelled rape perpetrated against a physically or mentally disabled victim are punishable by a life sentence.
In an unrelated event in Petrusburg, Free State, the case against the 82-year-old suspect, who appeared in court on a charge of alleged rape of an 8-year-old primary school girl, has been postponed to August 22, 2024.
It is said that the matter was brought to teachers’ attention in a school meeting last month before the case was opened and further investigated by the Jacobsdal Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit.
“One of the parents told the teacher that there is a certain girl who tells others how she normally goes to the suspect’s house and sleeps with him,” reads the police statement
The suspect remains in custody pending the outcome of the bail application.
