Night out ends in horror: Northern Cape man gets 10 years for raping cousin
A Severn man threatened his cousin with a knife, dragged her to his home and raped her — he has now been sentenced to 10 years in prison
Image: Morgan Morgan / DALL-E / DFA
A NIGHT out at a tavern in Madibeng Village, Severn, ended in terror for a 26-year-old woman who was raped by her own cousin.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the incident took place in the early hours of November 30, 2019, after the victim had been socialising with friends at the tavern.
As the venue was closing in the early hours, her 22-year-old cousin asked her to walk with him to a nearby house. When she refused, he pulled out a knife and ordered her to take off her shoes.
He then dragged her to his home, where he raped her. After the assault, the accused fell asleep, giving the victim a chance to escape and alert the police.
The cousin was swiftly arrested and remained behind bars throughout his trial. On September 3, the Kuruman Regional Court convicted him of rape and sentenced him to 10 years’ direct imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The acting district commissioner of John Taolo Gaetsewe, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, commended the work of Detective Sergeant Precious Tshikedi of the Kuruman SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit, saying her meticulous investigation had “ensured that justice was served and the perpetrator was held accountable”.
Sergeant Shemane confirmed the sentence this week, adding that the SAPS remains committed to fighting gender-based violence and bringing offenders to justice.