By Thys Khiba – Oupa Kgomo has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his 8-year-old step-granddaughter in Klipgat.
The Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court declared Kgomo unfit to possess a firearm.
The North West spokesperson for the NPA Henry Mamothameindicated that the 67-year-old was also registered in the national register of sexual offenders.
The sentencing comes after Kgomo was arrested by police officials but the court granted him R1000. He pleaded not guilty to the offence.
“His conviction emanates from incidents that occurred between January 2017, and December 2018, in Klipgat, where the accused stayed with the complaint’ and her grandmother, who he was in a relationship with.
“Evidence led in court revealed that Kgomo, raped the complainant whenever the grandmother went out of the house to run errands,” said Mamothame.
The complainant’s aunt noticed some unusual behaviour of the complainant, who was constantly crying and had ceased to play with her friends in December 2018.
Upon enquiring, the complainant told the aunt about her sexual ordeal with Kgomo.
Police were notified about the matter and she was subsequently taken for a medical check, which confirmed that the child was violated.
The State Advocate Mummy Mosonodi urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
She further argued that Kgomo took advantage of a child whom he was supposed to protect as she trusted him.
The Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court Magistrate Aggrey Sephotiagreed with the state and remarked that the courts have a responsibility to send a strong message to perpetrators of such offences, meant to violate women, children and the elderly.
The Public Prosecutions Director Dr Rachel Makharicommended the prosecutor for her role in bringing the perpetrator to book.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, was also impressed by the Detectives Sergeant Mmaletswai Mathiba from the SAPS and other role players for their collaboration in making sure that the perpetrator is arrested.
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