The Northern Cape provincial commissioner has welcomed the life sentence handed down to a 27-year-old man for rape by the Hopetown Regional Court.
THE NORTHERN Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, has welcomed the life sentence handed down to 27-year-old Marthinus Nuwegeld for rape by the Hopetown Regional Court on November 22.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the sentence sends a strong message that crimes against women and children will not be tolerated and perpetrators can expect severe consequences.
The sentence comes during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, a campaign highlighting the need for collective action against gender-based violence.
According to Sergeant Shemane, the court heard that on November 26, 2022, the 17-year-old victim was walking home when Nuwegeld accosted her, dragged her to a nearby shack, and raped her.
Thanks to a thorough investigation led by Detective Sergeant Ricardo Kock of the Hopetown SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, Nuwegeld was arrested. The investigating team successfully opposed bail, ensuring the accused remained in custody during the trial.
Lieutenant-General Otola praised Detective Sergeant Kock and advocate Nicola van Niekerk for their collaborative efforts, which resulted in a life sentence for Nuwegeld. She noted that their commitment to justice ensures that offenders like Nuwegeld are removed from society, protecting vulnerable communities.
She also reaffirmed the SAPS’s dedication to victim support, emphasising their enhanced efforts under the theme “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children.”
Otola further assured the public that the SAPS would increase its focus on high-risk areas during and beyond the campaign period.
