Justice was served for a teenager who had to endure the trauma of rape when the Giyani regional court convicted and sentenced her rapist to life.
Wiseman Dala Maluleke, 24, was given a life sentence for the rape of a 16-year-old girl. The rapes happened on two different occasions.
Met victim and her boyfriend on the street
In 2022, the accused met the victim and her boyfriend, whom he knew, and offered to buy them soft drinks and a bunny chow.
Later, he demanded the couple refund him the money he used to buy them food.
He threatened to take the victim by force if they didn’t give him his money back. He then took the victim at knifepoint.
He took her to the bushes, where he raped her, and later took her to his house, where he raped her for the second time.
Witness testimony, verdict
During the trial, state prosecutor Cathrine Maluleke called four witnesses to testify. The J88 and 212 affidavits were also handed in to corroborate the version of the state witnesses. The accused also testified and called his brother as a defence witness, denying ever committing the offences.
The court found the accused guilty of rape, read with the provisions of section 51(1) of the criminal law amendment act 105 of 1997. The state prosecutor led the evidence of the probation officer, Mr Manganyi.
Manganyi had compiled the pre-sentence report in aggravation of sentence.
Sentence handed out
The defence called the accused to testify in mitigation of his sentence. His brother was also called to testify.
The state argued that the court should impose a life imprisonment term. Defence for the accused argued for the court to deviate from it.
However, presiding officer Mr Madzhiye found that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. The accused was thus sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and applauded the good work of the prosecutions and SAPS to ensure that justice is done.
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