Woman jailed 20 years for raping nine-year-old neighbour

A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping a nine-year-old girl who lived next door to her, according to the Umzimkhulu Regional Court. Police allege that the perpetrator lured the child into her room, instructed her to undress, and then sexually assaulted her using her fingers. The court convicted her after finding that she had taken these actions against the vulnerable nine-year-old victim.

In a separate case, a 25-year-old woman was walking home from a friend's residence in Soshanguve when she encountered Tshepo Kekana. Kekana pointed a firearm at her and demanded her cellphone and money. When the woman refused to comply, Kekana forced her into a nearby open veld and raped her before fleeing the scene. The victim immediately reported the incident to a nearby police station.

Kekana was arrested while already in custody for an unrelated matter, following police investigations. He pleaded guilty during court proceedings and asked for a lenient sentence, claiming remorse and stating it would save court time. However, the State Prosecutor argued that Kekana's guilty plea was not motivated by genuine remorse but rather by overwhelming evidence against him.

The prosecutor also noted that Kekana is a repeat offender, having been previously convicted of rape three times, and is currently serving a life sentence for murder. Considering his extensive criminal history as a habitual sexual offender, the prosecutor contended that Kekana poses a significant threat to society and that the victim will continue to suffer trauma as a result of his actions. Consequently, Kekana was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment.