Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner North West

POTCHEFSTROOM -  The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the 18 years imprisonment sentence handed down to a 22-year-old accused by the Potchefstroom Regional Court on Tuesday, 13 September 2022. The accused was sentenced for raping a 14-year-old girl in 2019, in Ikageng, near Potchefstroom.

The rape was reported at Ikageng Police Station. The 22-year-old accused was arrested and charged with rape. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which two years were suspended for a period of five years on condition that the accused is not convicted of rape or any sexual offence committed during the period of suspension. The accused’s name will be included into the National Child Protection Register according to the Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005). Moreover, he was declared unfit to possess firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

Lieutenant General Kwena, congratulated Sergeant Jacob Ranoko of the Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, who worked hard together with other role players including the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management officials as well as prosecution to ensure that the accused was sentenced although the case was reported after a year. He indicated that the case will serve as an indication that the rule of law has no deadline.  

Ends

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Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani
082 373 9719  

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