By Thys Khiba – A man is to serve a life sentence for raping a 17-year-old pregnant girl at Ipelegeng township, Schweizer-Reneke in the Mamusa Local Municipality.
Deon Neo Masetlo was sentenced by the Schweizer-Renekeregional court on Tuesday.
Masetlo was sentenced to life imprisonment and a further five years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
The court also found him unfit to possess a firearm.
According to the North West spokesperson for the NPA, Henry Mamothame, Masetlo’s name will be entered in the register of sexual offenders.
“Masetlo’s conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on 20 July 2018, at the Ipelegeng location, whereby he came across the complainant and grabbed her while hurling insults at her.
“He then instructed her to go with him to an unknown location, where she subsequently attempted to escape but failed as she fell and injured herself. He then took out a knife and threatened her to the point that she gave in and walked with him,” said Mamothame.
The complainant only knew the accused by sight as one of the gang members at the Ipelegeng location.
Along the way, she saw people sitting outside in a yard and she managed to run and ask for help. He followed her and threatened some of the men who were reprimanding him.
“He subsequently assaulted the complainant and told the men that she was the mother of his children. He then took her to a house where he repeatedly raped her and only allowed her to leave in the morning after she promised to come back if he grants her permission to leave,” Mamothame said.
The matter was reported to the police and Masetlo was later arrested and denied bail.
While in court, Masetlo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo, argued that the complainant was 17 years of age and pregnant, urging the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
He further argued that the accused had an opportunity to leave when he was reprimanded at the house where the victim sought refuge.
Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and remarked that women and children have a right to free movement, without fearing for their lives. She further highlighted the important role that the court must play in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.