BLOEMFONTEIN – The Bloemfontein Regional Court has sentenced a man who raped a woman at knifepoint to a minimum of 15 years’ direct imprisonment. Motlalepule Elias Modise (29) was found guilty of housebreaking and rape on the night of 2 July 2023.
The court handed down the sentence on 24 October after the conviction of the accused on 30 September. The court heard that the victim, now 27 years old, was raped at knifepoint at her house in Peter Swartz. Modise was known to the victim. His conviction and sentencing was based on compelling evidence gathered by the investigative officer, including the testimony of the victim.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Modise had entered the house through a window at about 23:00. The victim was breastfeeding her baby when the intruder entered the house, armed with a knife. The victim testified that he had threatened to stab her with a knife upon realising she was able to clearly identify him. The victim described a harrowing rape at knifepoint by someone she knew.
Modise reportedly ordered the woman to undress and then raped her. Although the complainant screamed for help during the attack, no one came to her rescue. The following morning, on 3 July, she reported the incident to her neighbour, who then advised her to immediately report the matter at the Bloemspruit Police Station.
Modise, who had evaded the police for over two months, was arrested on the night of 11 September 2023 after the investigative officer devised a way to arrest him. Following his arrest, the officer successfully opposed bail and Modise was remanded in custody until his conviction.
During the trial, Modise denied all allegations of raping the woman and decided not to testify.
During the sentencing proceedings, Modise’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, and also that the court should deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and rather impose a lesser sentence. The defense argued that the accused was a first offender and a breadwinner for his family.
State prosecutor Azola Key, however, argued that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting deviation, citing that the victim had been violated in her own private space, which she regarded as a safe space. He took into consideration the complainant’s victim impact statement, indicating that she lived in constant fear of men due to the trauma experienced from her rape ordeal at knifepoint.
Key requested the the court further ruled that Modise’s particulars should be included in the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO), as well as that he should be declared unfit to possess a firearm.
