A 36-year-old man from Itsani village has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.
The Sibasa Regional Court handed down the sentence on 14 April, following the man's conviction for the brutal attack that took place on 6 November 2018.
The court heard that the victim was walking alone from a shop in Itsani village when the accused dragged her into a dilapidated toilet. He threatened to kill her if she made a sound before raping her, after which he fled the scene. His name is being withheld to protect the identity of the minor and to avoid secondary victimisation.
The traumatised girl managed to run to her mother's friend, whom she had been visiting at the time, and immediately reported what had happened. She was taken to Tshilidzini Hospital's Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical examination.
The accused pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings.
In aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor Eric Mphedziseni Muligi argued that the man posed a danger to society, particularly to vulnerable groups. The prosecutor told the court that the victim's right to dignity had been violated and that she had been left psychologically traumatised by the incident.
The court also heard that the accused committed the offence while he was a fugitive from the law, having escaped from Malamulele police station in 2018.
The state submitted that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances that would justify deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence.
The court further ordered that the man's name be included in the sexual offenders register.
Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga, praised the outcome.
“Each of these successful prosecutions is the culmination of months and even years of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work,” Thenga said. She noted that the case exemplifies hundreds of similar matters prosecuted successfully every day. She also commended Muligi and all other stakeholders involved in securing the conviction.