A 42-year-old man from Northern Cape was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for the rape of 22-year-old mentally challenged woman.
According to reports, the 22-year-old was walking alone in Calvinia West when Benjamin Geswindt lured her to an open field near Hantam High School and raped her.
Police spokesperson in the Northern Cape, Sergeant Molefi Shemane, said a witness alerted the victim’s father. A case was opened, the accused was arrested immediately, and bail was successfully opposed.
“The Calvinia magistrate’s court convicted and sentenced Geswindt to 28 years of imprisonment of which eight years were suspended for five years on condition he is not found guilty of a similar offence,” said Shemane.
The accused will therefore serve an effective 20 years in prison. The suspect was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, indicated that these sentences are a clear indication that violence perpetrated against the vulnerable members of society will not be tolerated, especially women and children.
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