Toilet break turns to nightmare: Rapist sentenced after victim suffers epileptic attack
A 43-year-old man, Jonathan Neels, has been sentenced to 12 years' direct imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old woman at his grandmother's house in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, after she had asked to use the toilet.
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The Carnarvon Regional Court has sentenced 43-year-old Jonathan Neels to 12 years' direct imprisonment for the rape of a 19-year-old woman. The sentence was handed down on September 8, 2025.
According to evidence presented in court, the incident occurred on July 28, 2024, around 2pm, when the complainant asked to use the toilet at Neels’ grandmother’s home. As she walked to the back of the house, Neels followed her, forcibly undressed her and raped her. Her screams alerted a neighbour – Neels’ cousin, Fergus Hooring – who intervened and restrained him.
After the rape, the complainant suffered an epileptic attack. Her mother assisted her, and the incident was reported to police. The state, led by Prosecutor Xolisa March, relied on testimony from the complainant, the accused’s grandmother Engela Neels, and Hooring.
Neels made 220 admissions after the state's case, including that he had non-consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant. In aggravation, March argued that Neels exploited a vulnerable woman and only admitted guilt due to the overwhelming evidence.
A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Trott Manghana, detailed the complainant's trauma and suffering. The statement highlighted the severe impact of the crime on the complainant's life.
This conviction and sentence reaffirm the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) commitment to protecting women's rights and delivering justice for gender-based violence survivors. The NPA aggressively prosecutes such cases, safeguarding the constitutional rights to dignity and privacy.
The NPA's commitment to justice is evident in this case, where the accused was held accountable for his actions. The sentence serves as a reminder that rape and gender-based violence will not be tolerated in South Africa.
For more information, contact Mojalefa Senokoatsane, NPA Regional Spokesperson, Northern Cape Division, at MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za or 073 423 3539.