Man gets 10 years in jail for attempted rape and assault GBH

THE NORTHERN Cape police have welcomed the sentence that was handed down to 32-year-old Simon Mans for attempted rape and assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock detailed the events leading to Mans’ arrest. On July 16, 2023, at around 1.35am, a 19-year-old woman was attacked while on her phone outside a tavern in Goutrou, Hopetown. Mans assaulted and strangled her before dragging her to a restroom with the intention of raping her. The young woman fought him off, escaped, and promptly reported the incident to the authorities.

Mans was apprehended within hours of the attack and remained in custody until sentencing in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.

The court sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for attempted rape and an additional two years for assault GBH.

Detective Sergeant Frans Louw from the Hopetown SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit was commended for his “outstanding” investigative work, which “ensured that the GBVF perpetrator is safely behind bars”.