The Tzaneen regional court convicted and sentenced Thabo Malematja, 27, to one life plus 15 years imprisonment for rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The convictions and sentences emanated from the incident that took place on 28 March 2022 in Belleview village, Limpopo province.
Victim accosted, raped and robbed
On the day of the rape incident the 17-year-old victim was walking alone in the street when the accused approached her with a butcher knife.
He then accosted and forced her to secluded areas at knifepoint before raping her twice. During the ordeal, the victim was also robbed of an amount of R150, which she testified that it belonged to her grandmother.
The accused was unknown to the victim, and he was later arrested. During the trial, Malematja pleaded not guilty to all charges put against him.
Victim impact
Prosecutor Emmanuel Phatudi led the testimony of the victim. The Victim Impact Statements were also presented in court. These gave details of how the incident negatively impacted the victim.
The victim expressed the humiliation and trauma she suffered because of the ordeal. She said she can no longer walk freely on the street or in the areas surrounded by bushes as they remind her of what happened to her.
In arguing for sentence, the prosecutor submitted to the court that rape humiliates, degrades and invades the privacy and dignity of the victims.
He submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a lesser sentence because the accused did not even display signs of remorse.
He added that the court should not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life and 15 years imprisonment.
Prescribed minimum sentencing
The presiding officer, Mrs Lamminga, agreed with the state, saying that the accused has left the victim with a lifelong wound that will always remind her of the ordeal. She also stated that he was not remorseful. The victim is now suffering from nightmares and flashbacks because of the incident.
The Director of Public Prosecutions’ advocate Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence. Thenga said she hopes that the imposed sentence will send a strong message to would-be offenders. She commended prosecutor Phathudi. Thenga also commended investigating officer Sergeant Glender Mathebula of the Family Violence Child and Sexual Offences division in Tzaneen.
