MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF A MINOR
The Mokopane Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Percy Ngalezane Muavela (42), of Zebediela to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl aged 12. During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty, and the court heard that on 26 October 2013, in Zebediela, the victim went home to close the windows as it was raining, and the mother had gone to church. Upon her arrival, she was attacked and raped by the accused. After the ordeal, she reported the incident immediately to her neighbours, who alerted the police. The accused was unknown until he was linked through DNA while serving sentence for another matter.
In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor Christina Rakoma submitted that the victim was attacked in her secure and comfortable space and she is still unable to maintain a love relationship due to the incident. The accused showed no remorse despite being linked positively by DNA. She then argued that there are no substantial or compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. The court agreed with the state and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and further declared him unfit to work with children, and unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that his name should be recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).
The NPA hopes that the other offenders of Gender-Based-Violence will deter from committing similar offences. We applaud the good work done by Prosecutor Rakoma and investigating officer, Sergeant Tinah Matsembe of Mokopane Family Violence and Child Protection Unit (FCS).
