ROODEPAN – The Kimberley Regional Court handed down a 38-year prison sentence to the accused in the Roodepan rape and murder case on Thursday, 23 February 2023. The accused, a 29-year-old man, was tried for assault, murder and two counts of rape which occurred between September 2019 and July 2020. The court heard that the victims of the accused feared him, preventing them from immediately registering cases against him until they were informed of his incarceration in another case.
The accused was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for one count of murder, 10 years each for the two counts of rape, and 3 years for one count of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. All sentences will run concurrently.
The successful prosecution of the accused was made possible by the meticulous police investigation carried out by Detective Sergeant Siphiwe Mdunge. Lt Colonel Marli Strydom, Galeshewe FCS Unit Commander, commended and applauded Detective Sergeant Mdunge for his tireless effort in ensuring perpetrators of GBVF are brought to book.
The 38-year prison sentence handed down to the accused serves as an example of the swift and just justice system in South Africa. It also serves as a warning to all perpetrators of GBVF that the law will catch up with them. As a society, we need to continue to strengthen our efforts in curbing gender-based violence and ensure that survivors of GBVF crimes are provided with adequate support.
Tags: rape Roodepan