A Galeshewe man was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old girl.
THE NORTHERN Cape police welcomed the 15-year sentence that was recently handed down to Themba Hope Dipheko, 46, in the Kimberley Regional Court for the rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Dipheko was arrested following two incidents in 2015.
The first incident occurred on the evening of February 14, 2015, when Dipheko accosted a 25-year-old woman, threatened her with a knife and dragged her to his house in Tyala Street, Galeshewe.
He assaulted her and attempted to rape her, but she was saved when the police arrived and Dipheko fled the scene.
The second incident took place on February 15, 2015, at approximately 3am, when Dipheko approached a 17-year-old girl.
He chased away her two friends and forced her to go with him to his house.
Dipheko threatened her with a broken bottle and raped her.
He fled the scene but was arrested by the police the following day.
Dipheko was found guilty on the rape charge and sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment.
The provincial head of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit, Brigadier Nicky Mills, commended Detective Sergeant Aaron Gumede from the provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit for “his excellent detective work that led to the outstanding sentence”.
