POTCHEFSTROOM– Goitsemodimo Solomon Keagile (28) was on Friday, 12 November 2021 sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape by the Atamelang Regional Court.

The accused sentencing stems from an incident wherein he allegedly raped a 22-year-old woman. It is alleged that on Saturday, 16 July 2016 at about 00:45, the victim was sleeping at her home, Sloja Section in Madibogo. She woke up and saw the suspect already inside her room. Information obtained through evidence in Court indicated that the suspect gained entry into the house through the window of the victim’s grandmother’s bedroom. The suspect allegedly overpowered, threatened and raped the victim in three different places inside the house.

Following the incident, a case of rape was registered and Keagile was traced and arrested. In two occasions, the accused did not attend the court and warrants of his arrest were issued and he was as a result detained until his trial. Ultimately he pleaded guilty to the charge of rape and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Investigating Officer, Detective Warrant Officer Tumiso Halenyane of Vryburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for a sterling job. He reiterated that the South African Police Service will continue to ensure that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide face the full might of the law.

Source: South African Police Service