A 33-year-old Northern Cape man who was convicted of four charges of rape was handed down two life sentences by the Mothibistad Regional Court.
A 33-YEAR-old Northern Cape man, Lesetja Keikabile, who was convicted of four charges of rape, was handed two life sentences by the Mothibistad Regional Court.
The first incident took place on April 29, 2019, when a 39-year-old woman met Keikabile while she was visiting a local bar with friends in the Mothibistad area.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the woman asked Keikabile for a lift home when they were about to leave, as her friends were travelling in a different direction.
“The accused (Keikabile) had an engaging personality and she did not see any reason not to trust him,” said Senokoatsane.
He added that Keikabile drove to his residence and he began to choke the complainant in the vehicle. “Despite vigorously fighting back, the accused proceeded to rape her numerous times.
“The complainant reported the matter to her boyfriend and with the help of friends the accused was apprehended and handed over to the police at the local police station, where he was formally charged and arrested on the same evening.”
Senokoatsane said that the matter was provisionally struck off the roll while the court was waiting for DNA evidence.
The second incident took place on June 8.
“An 18-year-old woman was selling food outside a Mothibistad tavern. She decided to close early as business was slow and join her sister for drinks at a tavern.”
Senokoatsane said that the tavern was the same establishment where Keikabile had met the first complainant.
“The accused offered his second rape victim a lift home when it was time to leave the tavern. She accepted the offer as she found him to have an engaging personality and had no reason not to trust him.
“Instead of safely dropping her off at her home, the accused drove to an abandoned area close to the complainant’s home. It was there that the accused proceeded to choke the complainant and proceeded to rape her numerous times. During the incident, the complainant suffered severe bruising to her throat.
“The complainant managed to escape and ran to her home. She reported the incident to the police the following day. The accused was arrested and the prosecution successfully opposed bail again. He remained in custody until the conclusion of his case.”
During the trial, the regional court prosecutor, Bernice Bronkhorst, argued that Keikabile used the same modus operandi to lure his victims.
She noted that his “engaging personality” created a false impression to both complainants that he could be trusted.
“She emphasised the seriousness of the offences as well as the fact that the accused was a danger to society and did not show any remorse as he proceeded to commit the second crime after he was released on a warning in the first case,” Senokoatsane said.
“The magistrate was unable to pinpoint any substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences.”
Senokoatsane stated that the acting regional magistrate, Stephan Hinana, sentenced Keikabile to two life imprisonment sentences.
The sentences will run concurrently.
“The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Northern Cape believes this sentence will send a clear message to potential offenders and will act as a deterrent to those who are planning to commit these types of offences,” Senokoatsane said.
