The Botshabelo Regional Court has thrown the book at a man convicted of raping a teenage girl and robbing the victim and her friend of their cellphones in July 2018.
Magistrate Motshidisi Khuduga sentenced Lebona Marumo (33) to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of both these crimes on 4 October.
The victim, who had been accompanied by her friend on the night of the incident, was 14 years old at the time.
The harsh sentence was informed by a victim impact statement in which the trauma caused in the teenager’s life was detailed, as well as compelling evidence that was presented by a state witness.
The witness was an accomplice in robbing the victim and her friend of their cellphones.
Phaladi Shuping, provincial spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the witness had accompanied Marumo on the night in question.
Marumo and his companion accosted the girls on their way home, while returning from church choir practice.
Marumo cornered the victim at a school and raped her, while her friend managed to run away.
“The victim’s friend came back with community members, who hunted down the accused and ultimately found them at a tavern,” Shuping said.
He said Marumo and his accomplice had tried to cover their tracks by changing their clothes.
“But the complainant and her friend pointed them out. Then the police were called and both men were arrested.
“Marumo denied raping the complainant and called a witness to prove an alibi, but the witness told the court that he was not with Marumo on the day of the incident.”
The harsh sentencing was requested by state prosecutor Thuli Ndwandwa, pursuant to rendering justice and sending a strong message to rapists.
