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TWO TEENAGE boys from Colesberg have been sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment for the rape and sexual assault of two young girls in a harrowing case that has shocked the community.
The Colesberg Regional Court handed down the sentences on February 25 following a detailed investigation into the brutal attack that took place just over two years ago.
According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the assault occurred on Sunday, February 12, 2023, when a group of children were playing in the veld near a local dumping site.
The two accused, who were 16 years old at the time, arrived at the scene and chased the children away - except for the two victims, aged 10 and 11. The boys then sexually assaulted and raped the young girls before fleeing the scene.
The traumatised victims courageously reported the incident to the police, leading to the swift arrest of the perpetrators.
After months of rigorous investigation, Detective Sergeant Willy Isaacs of the De Aar Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit successfully secured a conviction. The court sentenced one of the accused to five years of direct imprisonment for rape and sexual assault, while the other received five years of direct imprisonment for rape. Additionally, both have been declared unfit to possess firearms.
The sentencing comes as the Northern Cape grapples with a rise in child-on-child sexual crimes. In the latest third-quarter crime statistics released this week, provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola raised concerns about the alarming trend, stressing that urgent intervention and awareness campaigns are needed to address the growing crisis.
Authorities are urging communities to remain vigilant and report any suspected crimes against children. The public can provide anonymous tips via the MySAPS app or call the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111.