GQEBERHA – A 51-year-old suspect, Andries Plaatjies was sentenced by the Gqeberha High Court to life imprisonment for rape and an additional five years for kidnapping a 10-year-old girl.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eastern Cape division spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the offences were committed on 27 September 2024 in Zweledinga Squatter Camp, Seaview, near Gqeberha.
“The court heard that on the evening of the incident, the young girl was playing with friends and her sister at a netball field in the informal settlement,” he said. “As darkness fell, she decided to sleep at her aunt’s house because she was afraid to walk home alone. While on her way, Plaatjies, who was known to her as ‘Dube’, called her and told her it was late and that she should sleep at his shack instead.”
Tyali added that after the child entered the shack, Plaatjies closed the door and instructed her to lie on the bed and remove her trousers. “When she refused, he threatened to kill her. He turned up the volume of a radio to muffle her cries and proceeded to rape her.”
The court also heard that after the assault, Plaatjies left the complainant locked inside the shack, where she cried herself to sleep. “The following morning, Plaatjies returned and told her to leave. The victim immediately ran to her aunt’s house and reported the rape,” he said. “Her mother was informed and, together with family members, confronted Plaatjies, who fled after being told that the police would be contacted.”
Tyali stated that Plaatjies was arrested a week later after members of the community apprehended him.
“In his guilty plea, Plaatjies stated that he had consumed alcohol and smoked dagga earlier that day but acknowledged that he was fully aware of the wrongfulness of his actions and proceeded regardless,” he said. “The court was informed that the accused has previous convictions, including a 1990 housebreaking conviction, for which he received a whipping, and a 2017 conviction for unlawful possession of drugs, for which he was fined R400.”
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended Senior State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein and the investigating officers for their co-ordinated approach, meticulous preparation of evidence, and victim-centred management of the matter, which significantly strengthened the State’s case.
Madolo also acknowledged the critical role played by the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Gqeberha for providing comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and forensic support to the victim, thereby enhancing the integrity of the evidence and ensuring that she received the necessary care and protection.
He emphasised that the NPA will continue to prioritise the prosecution of crimes against children and will work closely with criminal justice partners to ensure that justice is delivered effectively and that public confidence in the rule of law is upheld.
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