LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING A 70-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
The Temba Magistrates’ Court sentenced Thabo Mathibe (28), to life imprisonment for raping a 70-year-old woman and a further 10 years for housebreaking. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on 09 February 2019, at Mathibestad near Temba, where the accused broke into the home of the complainant, who was in the presence of her two grandchildren. He then dragged her outside the house while assaulting her and he raped her. The neighbours heard her scream and rushed to her rescue. Mathibe was then apprehended on the scene and police were called to arrest him. He remained in custody for the duration of the trial.
The state prosecutor, Tebogo Mosito, argued successfully for the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. He further argued how the complaint’s right to dignity was violated. Magistrate Gilbert Sono agreed with the state and sentenced Mathibe to life imprisonment.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West lauded the teamwork by the NPA, police and the neighbours for bringing the perpetrator to book. “This conviction was made possible by the swift action of community members and such should re-enforce our advocacy against crime in our communities”, she remarked.
