The Thabamoopo Regional Court in Limpopo has sentenced 40-year-old Moganedi Sello Koos to life imprisonment after he was convicted on charges of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Koos was sentenced on Tuesday after he was arrested for raping a 16-year-old girl, on April 16, 2017, at Magatle village.
The rape incident happened at around 4am, according to Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba.
The court heard that the teenage girl was alone at home, and her mother had visited the cemetery for a candlelight vigil.
“The accused (Koos), who happened to be her mother's boyfriend, forcefully broke into the victim's house and threatened the victim to comply or he would stab her with the knife. He then ordered the girl to undress and he raped her,” said Mashaba.
Afterwards, he robbed the teenager of two cellphones and fled the scene.
“The incident was reported to the police, who opened cases of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances,” said Mashaba.
“The case was sent to the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit in Mokopane for further investigation. Sergeant Mogale Billy was tasked to investigate the case further.”
In June 2020, police said Koos was linked to the heinous crime through DNA, and he was arrested.
“The investigating officer managed to oppose bail until the accused was found guilty,” said Mashaba.
“The accused was convicted and sentenced on the following charges - count one of rape, Koos was sentenced to life imprisonment; and on count two, of robbery with aggravating circumstances, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.”
Both sentences will run concurrently.
Koos was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his particulars will be included in the National Register for Sexual Offences.
Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the hefty sentence.
“This sentence sends a clear message that crime does not pay. As parents, it is our responsibility to protect and secure our children, not to leave them unattended,” said Hadebe.
IOL