POTCHEFSTROOM – The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed two sentences handed down to two accused in the Bojanala District (Rustenburg) this week.
In the first case, reported on Thursday, 20 January 2022 at about 11:03, the court heard evidence that a 27-year-old victim was contacted on her cellular phone by her ex-boyfriend, Keamogetswe Aphistos Mogari and requested to come out of her house to the gate, where she was living in Madikwe, because he wanted to speak to her. Although the victim refused, she was overpowered and dragged into a backroom where the convict assaulted and raped her. The victim managed to escape and ran into the main house where she locked herself inside and called her father on her cellular phone for help. Mogari broke down two doors and attacked the victim inside the house. She was stabbed numerous times with a knife and robbed of her cellular phone, laptop and a cap. Neighbours gathered close after hearing her cries for help and she was taken to a local clinic for medical attention. Excellent investigation by Sergeant Phapelo Mabule of Mogwase Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) lead to the arrest and first court appearance of Mogari within four days after the incident.
On Tuesday, 15 November 2022, the Madikwe Magistrates’ Court sentenced 26-year-old Keamogetswe Aphistos Mogari as follows:
Count 1: Rape-10 year’s imprisonment
Count 2: Housebreaking with the intent to murder/attempted murder: 6 years imprisonment
Count 3: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years imprisonment
Count 1 and 2 will run concurrently with count 3 and Mogari was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
In another separate incident reported in the evening of Thursday, 30 July 2020, the naked body of a seven-year-old girl was found lying in an unfinished bathroom, used as a store room in Photsaneng, Kgamakwe Section, Rustenburg. She was last seen alive by her mother during lunch at about 14:00 on the same day, where after she went to play outside.
Excellent Investigation by Warrant Officer Karel Khumalo at the Rustenburg Detectives, led to the arrest of a neighbour; Calvin Khunwane, two days after the incident was reported. The accused was well known to the child.
On Wednesday, 16 November 2022, the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced 32-year-old Calvin Khunwane as follows:
Count 1: Kidnapping-5 year’s imprisonment
Count 2: Rape-Life imprisonment
Count 3: Murder – Life imprisonment
Count 4: Defeating the ends of Justice-5 years imprisonment
Count 1 and 4 will run concurrently with count 2 and 3.
The Provincial Commissioner commended the Investigating Officers, prosecution and all other role players for securing the sentences and reiterated that those who perpetrate Gender Based Violence will be shown no mercy.
Source: South African Police Service