Elderly man gets life sentence for rape of a minor [4]

The Limpopo High Court sitting in Polokwane has sentenced Mboneni Simon Ratshikata [56] from Muledane to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl aged four. He was also sentenced to an additional three years for housebreaking with intent to commit an offence and malicious damage to property.

During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty. The state-led evidence of the witnesses who testified that on 26 May 2012, the accused threw stones at the windows of the victim’s homestead. When the victim’s brother left the house to seek assistance from the police, the accused forcefully entered the house and raped the victim.

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When the victim’s brother returned to the house with the police, they found both the accused and the victim naked, and the police immediately arrested the accused.

In aggravating the sentence, state advocate Muneiwa Ratshibvumo submitted that the victim is still traumatised by this offence. It has taken 13 years to be finalised due to the delaying tactics of the accused.

MBONENI SIMON RATSHIKATA SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF A MINOR

She further submitted that the accused showed no remorse and, therefore, the court should impose an appropriate sentence. She concluded by submitting that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and recommended that the prescribed minimum sentence be imposed, and the court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.

The NPA in Limpopo has welcomed the sentence, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Adv. Ivy Thenga stated that this demonstrates that the long arm of the law finally caught up with the accused 13 years later.

She further praised the diligent work of advocate Ratshibvumo and investigating officer sergeant Mmbara Ndivhuwo from Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit.