A brazen young man from Bothaville in Free State was sentenced to two life terms for raping a teenager girl in broad daylight, and an adult woman in the presence of her son. The Bothaville Regional Court sentenced Thabang Mike Moeketsi (20) for the two separate crimes committed last year.
The court sentenced the accused to 20 years for raping a 42-year-old woman on 11 June, and 20 years for raping a 15-year-old girl on 13 September last year. Moeketsi was convicted and sentenced on Monday, 22 April, based on compelling evidence presented in court during both trials.
Cap. Stephen Thakeng, spokesperson for the Lejweleputswa police, said forensic DNA results positively linked the accused Moeketsi to both rape incidents. He said the accused had threatened to harm both victims if they attempted to scream for help.
“Moeketsi was sentenced to life for both rape incidents, meaning he will serve 40 years’ direct imprisonment. The 15-year-old girl was alone at home in Kgotsong, Bothaville. She was bathing when the accused entered her bedroom on 3 September at about 14:00,” he said.
Thakeng said evidence gathered by the investigating officer revealed that Moeketsi was so brazen, he raped the 42-year-old victim in the presence of her son on the night of 11 June after forcibly entering her house in the Kgotsong township. He said Moeketsi capitalised on the blanket of darkness due to load shedding to enter the victim’s house and rape her.
“The 42-year-old woman was with her 13-year-old son, asleep, when she was awoken by movement on her bed at about 21:15 on 11 June. It was during load shedding. She lit her cellphone torch and saw the suspect next to her bed. The suspect threatened her with a knife to not scream, and he raped her. After raping the victim, the accused fled the scene. The accused was linked through DNA in both incidents, and was arrested and charged with rape,” said Thakeng. He said the successful prosecution that culminated in Moeketsi’s sentencing to two life terms was the results of in-depth investigations by two detectives attached to the Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
