Teen is sentenced for raping children

Case involved 21 minors - perpertrator was 13 at the time

A17 year-old boy from Komani Park, convicted of 10 counts of rape and two counts of compelled rape, was sentenced to five years

’ compulsory residence at a youth centre and an additional five years

’ imprisonment last week.

The Rep reported (‘Young boy accused of multiple rapes ’, October 10

2016) that a teenager, who could not be named as he was under age, was accused of raping 21 young children in Komani Park, some under the age of 10, with charges dating back to May 2016.

The boy, who was 13 when he committed the offences, pleaded guilty and was convicted on September 27

2019 on 10 counts of rape and two counts of compelled rape.

The Rep reported (‘Boy now pleads guilty to one of 12 rapes ’, January 17 2020) that the boy had then changed his statement, admitting to one count of rape. His then defence attorney requested his withdrawal from the case.

Addressing the accused before imposing the sentence on Thursday last week, magistrate Lungi Mahlathi said rape was an abhorrent crime worldwide. If you were above 16 at the time of

“committing an offence I have no doubt that under these circumstances you would have qualified for long-term imprisonment, including life.

Do not take this sentence lightly. It is “only because of your age at the time that the court is imposing the sentence.”

Mahlathi said after considering submissions and recommendations made, the accused was sentenced to undergo compulsory residence at a youth care centre in Burgersdorp for five years, where he will receive the kind of care

“and guidance pleaded for by the defence and prosecution. That will lapse when the accused turns 21.

In addition to that, because of the

“severity of the crime and in an attempt to protect those who fall victim to genderbased violence, after serving at the residence and the serving period has lapsed, the court sentences the accused to undergo five years imprisonment,”

’ said Mahlathi.

Speaking to The Rep after the proceedings, parents of the victims were pleased with the sentence.

We are thankful for the support that “

Southbourne Primary School principal Marelise Bekker has given us.

If it were not for her we would not

“have known this was happening. Justice has been served after such a

“long time,” said one of the parents.