Dragged from her doorstep and raped – attacker finally jailed

A YOUNG woman was just steps away from the safety of her home when she was overpowered, silenced, and dragged behind an abandoned building, where she was brutally raped. More than two years later, her attacker has finally been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Kuruman Regional Court.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the assault took place in the early hours of Sunday, January 15, 2023.

The 21-year-old woman was walking home from a nearby tavern with two relatives in Tsineng when a 25-year-old man, known to her, intercepted the group and asked to speak with her privately. She agreed, and the two slowed down while her relatives continued ahead.

While walking together, the man suggested starting a romantic relationship, but the woman turned him down. As they reached her home and her relatives went inside, the man suddenly turned violent. With no warning, he covered her mouth to silence her screams, carried her away from the house, and forced her behind a nearby unoccupied building where he raped her.

The traumatised woman reported the incident to her parents, and the police arrested the suspect later that same day. He was granted bail while awaiting trial.

On May 13, the court found Tshwarelo Maibere, now 26, guilty of rape. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, with three years suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of any further sexual offences during that period. His name will also be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The conviction and sentencing have been welcomed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) management in the Northern Cape as a victory for justice in the fight against gender-based violence, thanks to the determined efforts of the Kuruman Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit and the prosecution team.

The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, praised the efforts of Detective Sergeant Precious Tshikedi from the Kuruman FCS, along with Public Prosecutor Kekeletso Lekota, for their dedication and teamwork in securing justice for the victim and standing up for the rights of women.