A 42-year-old Ceres man convicted of raping and sexually exploiting multiple children has been sentenced to five life terms and an additional 78 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
Leano Vergotine was sentenced by the Western Cape High Court today, after being convicted on 15 of 17 charges including rape, child pornography, sexual grooming and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Acting Judge Amanda Van Leeve declared Vergotine a “modern day monster” and a dangerous criminal whilst invoking Section 286 of the Criminal Procedure Act, ensuring he will serve an indefinite period of imprisonment with no possibility of release.
The court heard how Vergotine committed a series of sexual offences between July and September 2022, targeting multiple children. His victims included a nine-year-old child whom he groomed and raped on multiple occasions, a 15-year-old boy whom he raped and anally penetrated whilst filming the assault, and a 16-year-old girl whom he physically assaulted during the rape. An 18-year-old woman also opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against him.
Vergotine was convicted on 1 June on charges including five counts of rape, two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of child pornography, using a child for child pornography, creation of child pornography in contravention of the Films and Publications Act, sexual grooming and assault.
The court heard that Vergotine has a criminal history dating back to 1998. In 2010, he was convicted for the rape of a minor and served 12 years of a 15-year sentence. Psychological assessments presented during the trial indicated that he displayed traits consistent with a paedophilic disorder.
Western Cape SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General (Adv) Thembisile Patekile praised Ceres Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) detective Warrant Officer Anthony Rooy for his relentless pursuit of justice in securing the conviction.
The sentencing sends a strong message about the severity with which South African courts treat crimes against children, particularly in cases involving repeat offenders.
