Augrabies man gets 18 years for brutal rape of 11-year-old girl

A 57-YEAR-OLD man from Augrabies has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the shocking rape of an 11-year-old girl, in a case that has stirred outrage.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the brutal assault took place on the evening of November 27, 2022, when the child was walking home. The man confronted her and, after she refused to go with him to a nearby shop, dragged her into the veld and raped her before fleeing the scene.

The traumatised child reported the incident to her mother, who immediately contacted the police. Following an investigation, the suspect was traced and arrested.

This week, the Kakamas Regional Court handed down a sentence of 18 years' direct imprisonment for the rape, along with an additional three-month sentence for common assault, to run concurrently.

The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jurie Mokgalagadi of the Kakamas SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, whose efforts were praised by provincial authorities. 

Northern Cape acting provincial commissioner Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga said that the conviction underscores the police's commitment to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that perpetrators of violence face serious consequences.