Trusted family friend gets 22 years for raping 17-year-old boy

A 45-YEAR-OLD man from Galeshewe has been sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old boy. 

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the perpetrator, Zwelitsha Lebetsneng, was a trusted family friend who had known the teenager since childhood.

“The incident occurred on August 24, 2024, when Lebetsneng went to the home of the complainant. He entered the property and instructed the victim to perform oral sex on him. The traumatised teenager, who was alone at home at the time, complied out of fear and immediately reported the incident to a neighbour. The accused was arrested shortly thereafter and first appeared in court on August 29, 2024, where he was denied bail until the conclusion of the trial.” 

Senokoatsane said that throughout the trial, the complainant received extensive support and ongoing psychosocial services from the Galeshewe Thuthuzela Care Centre. 

“The court preparation officer, Lindokuhle Sikhakhane, ensured the victim was adequately prepared for the court proceedings and facilitated the compilation of the victim impact statement. A forensic medical examination was also conducted.” 

He added that State advocate Tevaughnay van Wyk argued that Lebetsneng posed a danger to society and that a severe sentence was necessary to deter similar offences.

“The State highlighted that the complainant forms part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI+) community, which merits constitutional protection due to their vulnerability to such targeted crimes.” 

Senokoatsane said Lebetsneng was convicted in the Sexual Offences Court sitting in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on October 20 and was earlier this month sentenced to 22 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape of a male minor. 

“Additionally, the court ordered that the accused’s name and details be recorded in both the National Register for Sex Offenders and the National Child Protection Register, thereby restricting him from working with or accessing children and other vulnerable groups.”

He stated that the NPA would continue to prosecute sexual offences in the interests of protecting the dignity, bodily integrity and privacy of vulnerable members of society. 

The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in the Northern Cape, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, commended the investigating officer, Detective Constable Setshego Matlhale from the Galeshewe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit, and advocate Tevaughnay van Wyk from the NPA for their dedication in securing a fitting sentence to ensure that justice was served for the young complainant.