HENNENMAN – A 24-year-old Hennenman man has been sentenced to an effective 10 years’ direct imprisonment for raping his 40-year-old mother and 63-year-old grandmother in two separate incidents in Phomolong during 2025.
The Virginia Regional Court handed down the sentence on 29 September 2026 after the accused pleaded guilty to two counts of rape.
Lejweleputswa District Commissioner Major General (Dr) Tholie Afonso welcomed the sentence, commending the investigation and the effective direct imprisonment imposed by the court.
The first incident occurred on 6 April 2025, when the accused accompanied his mother from his grandmother’s house to her residence in Phomolong.
According to evidence presented in court, the accused made sexual advances towards his mother, who reprimanded him and told him that a sexual relationship between them would be wrong.
He made sexual advances
At approximately 03:20, while his mother was asleep, the accused entered her bedroom, removed her blankets and undressed her before raping her.
He was subsequently arrested but later released on bail.
The second incident took place on 19 December 2025 at his grandmother’s home in Phomolong.
The court heard that the accused grabbed his 63-year-old grandmother by the feet and pulled her out of bed. He allegedly told her that he wanted her to experience the same pain he had felt when she testified against him in his mother’s rape case.
Despite his grandmother pleading with him to stop, the accused proceeded to rape her.
Ignored grandmother’s pleas
He was arrested and appeared in court, where bail was opposed.
Both cases were assigned to the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation. Sergeant Moleboheng Molete and Warrant Officer Mia Engelbrecht investigated the respective cases.
The evidence gathered by the investigators, together with the prosecution led by National Prosecuting Authority prosecutor Chabane, contributed to the case against the accused, who subsequently pleaded guilty.
Regional Magistrate Mgudlwa sentenced the accused to 10 years’ direct imprisonment on the first count of rape. On the second count, he received a 15-year prison sentence, of which five years were suspended, leaving 10 years’ direct imprisonment.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 10 years’ direct imprisonment.
The court further ordered that the accused’s particulars be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders in terms of Section 50(2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007.
In terms of Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
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