The Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court handed down significant sentences in two separate rape cases yesterday, highlighting the ongoing fight against gender-based violence in the Free State. In one case, a stepfather received a life sentence for infecting his 16-year-old stepdaughter with HIV after raping her. In a separate case, a caretaker was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the rape of a tenant.
The first case involved a 40-year-old man, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, who resided with his stepdaughter, her mother, and her sister in a shack in Bloemspruit, outside Bloemfontein. Police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli detailed the horrific events that transpired in 2020. The girl's mother was hospitalised at the time of the rape.
"The victim subsequently tested positive for HIV after she fell ill thinking she was pregnant and was sent to stay with a cousin in Sasolburg," Sergeant Kareli explained. It was in Sasolburg that the teenager confided in a relative about the sexual assault. The incident was subsequently reported to the Sasolburg police station.
The case was then transferred to the Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, where it was meticulously investigated by Sergeant Makhetha, working in close collaboration with Advocate Cwele from the National Prosecuting Authority. The thorough investigation led to the stepfather's conviction and subsequent life sentence for the brutal rape. The sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the devastating consequences for the victim, both physically and emotionally. The life imprisonment sends a clear message that such heinous acts will not be tolerated.
In a separate, though equally disturbing, case, the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court sentenced 38-year-old Nkosinathi Mangaliso to 15 years in prison for rape. Mangaliso, a caretaker at a residential complex, committed the crime on 16 June 2023.
According to Sergeant Kareli, the incident occurred after the 30-year-old victim, a tenant at the complex, requested Mangaliso's assistance in gaining access to her apartment after losing her keys. Taking advantage of the situation, and the fact that the victim was intoxicated, Mangaliso sexually assaulted her.
The Parkweg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, led by Sergeant Tshitso Mofokeng, investigated the case in partnership with Advocate York from the National Prosecuting Authority. Mangaliso was arrested on 17 June 2023 and initially released on bail. However, following a thorough investigation and trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
