Suspended sentence for child rapist

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who raped and impregnated a 13-year-old girl, who had gone to a tuckshop, was handed a suspended sentence in the Upington regional court.

ZF Mgcawu district SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Omphile Masegela said the accused, Winston Maans, followed the girl from the tuckshop on July 28 2023.

“He forcefully grabbed her and took her to his place where he raped her, when she refused his invitation to accompany him, Masegela said.

“The girl suffered infections after a period of time and upon a medical examination, a doctor confirmed that she was pregnant. A case was reported to the police for investigation and the accused was arrested.”

Masegela stated that the accused was found guilty of statutory rape and was sentenced to five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on May 7.

The provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola applauded the investigating officer Sergeant Elliot Geya for the sterling investigation and reiterated that the SAPS had adopted a zero tolerance approach with regards to crimes perpetrated against women and children.