A 32-year-old man, Akanyang Tlhoke, has been sentenced to 30 years' direct imprisonment by the Molopo Regional Court in the North West for raping a 15-year-old girl. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the conviction and sentence, which was secured through DNA evidence. According to the NPA, Tlhoke was found guilty of raping the teenager in 2019. The case was prosecuted by Advocate Kefentse Diseko.
The court heard that on September 20, 2019, the victim was on her way to visit a friend in Mosiane View when she was accosted by Tlhoke. Tlhoke, who was not known to the girl, was armed with a knife and forced her into nearby bushes, where he raped her. Following the incident, investigators conducted an extensive investigation that ultimately led to Tlhoke being identified through DNA evidence.
Faced with the evidence presented by the State, Tlhoke subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge. The State had argued for life imprisonment, citing the serious nature of the offence. However, the court found that substantial and compelling circumstances existed to justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.
Tlhoke was instead sentenced to 30 years' direct imprisonment. In addition to the prison sentence, the court declared him unfit to work with children and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
North West Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Rachel Makhari welcomed the outcome, saying the sentence demonstrated that perpetrators could not evade justice indefinitely. Makhari said law enforcement agencies and prosecutors remained committed to holding those responsible for crimes against vulnerable members of society accountable.
The NPA also commended the collaborative efforts of the stakeholders involved in securing the conviction and sentence. The prosecution said the successful use of DNA evidence in the case highlighted the importance of forensic science in investigating and prosecuting sexual offences.
The NPA said it remained committed to combating gender-based violence and femicide and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual offences faced the full force of the law. The authority emphasized the importance of reporting and investigating cases of sexual violence to bring perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- The 32-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl in 2019.
- The conviction was secured through DNA evidence, highlighting the importance of forensic science in investigating and prosecuting sexual offences.
- The sentence demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to holding perpetrators of crimes against vulnerable members of society accountable.
