Two men have been handed life sentences after raping a 19-year-old woman.
The Robertson Regional Court sentenced Edmund Plaatjies and Elvin Jantjies to three life terms each, also declaring them unfit to possess firearms, and ordered the prosecutor to inform the victim of her rights to make representations, to the Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, when the accused are considered for parole or correctional supervision. The court further ordered an immediate search and seizure of all firearms, ammunition, competency certificates, licences, permits and authorisations issued to the accused.
This sentence and the orders follow their conviction on three counts of rape each.
Prosecutor Elton Willemse told the court the accused found the woman standing outside when attending a social gathering in Silverstrand, Robertson with her child and friends. Lured by the men, as she knew them both, she was forced into accompanying them into nearby vineyards where they took turns raping her.
They restrained her by slapping and punching her in the face, leaving her with multiple abrasions on her face, arms and hands, lacerations on the lower lip and bruises.
The victim-impact report indicated the shock and trauma of being attacked by men she knew as well as accompanying nightmares and flashbacks and a resultant fear of men, and the likelihood of permanent scars.
During arguments Willemse painted a picture of men who lacked remorse or regret for their actions, believed they were innocent and did not take responsibility for their heinous crimes. He told the court Plaatjies (30) was a member of the 28s gang and a “magistrate” in prison who hands down sentences to other members when they go astray. He had previous convictions and sentences for culpable homicide and attempted rape.
Jantjies (27) was a member of the Junior Cisko Yankies gang and became a member of the 26s after his incarceration. He had previous convictions for drug use and use of a vehicle without an owner’s consent committed in 2016.
“Plaatjies’ past transgressions did not serve as effective deterrents, as he committed these offences again only 10 months after his parole on 19 September 2016. He committed two attempted rapes about four years apart, and it could therefore be held that he had a propensity to commit sexual offences.
In the case in question he had suggested to Jantjies that they kill the victim and threatened to kill her and her child if she told anyone about the attack. The community needed to be protected from his violent tendencies, through custodial sentencing.
“Jantjies is equally responsible for the pain and suffering the victim had to endure,” Willemse said, “as he was actively involved in grabbing her, dragging her into the vineyards, assaulting her, restraining and raping her. Jantjies was in a relationship with the victim’s stepmother and had a moral obligation to protect her from harm. He acted in total disregard for her well-being, and due to the severity of the offence, he too needs to be removed from society by imposing a custodial sentence.”
The court concurred and ruled in favour of the proposed sentences for the accused. Commenting afterwards, Willemse said: “The message will hopefully reverberate throughout the Breede-Langeberg region, and even beyond that gender-based violence is a priority for the justice cluster. Dire consequences await those who rape and assault our mothers and daughters in our communities. We remain committed to prosecuting culprits of these vulgar and senseless acts of violence to the full extent of the law and to empowering people who report these crimes.”
