Justice For A Minor As A Rapist Gets A Life Sentence

The Mdantsane Regional Court sentenced Phakamile Folokhwe Coko (54), to life imprisonment after convicting them on two counts of raping a minor more than ten years ago. In the year 2010, Coko took advantage of the trust that was put by the then 10-year-old family in him and raped the girl on two occasions. Coko used to help with some chores at the victim’s homestead even before she was born.  When the rapes took place, he was still helping the family and would be requested to transport the young girl to school.

The victim did not report the assaults on her, because Coko threatened her with death if she did.  She only reported the matter in 2020, when she confided in her mother when she could no longer bear the pain, humiliation and trauma she suffered by keeping quiet. During the trial, Coko pleaded not guilty in his defence, but the court was convinced otherwise by prosecutor Phillip Phoofolo, who led the evidence of the victim’s mother and a forensic nurse. Under cross-examination, Coko could not explain why the victim could implicate him after such a long time, and the court found him guilty as charged. During sentencing, the prosecutor implored the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, the court agreed and took the two counts as one sentence.

Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, said the sentence should encourage other rape victims to report to police even if they were molested a long time ago. “Prosecutors are competent and well capacitated to secure convictions in such cases, so more victims see justice.”  

ENDS

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Eastern Cape Division

Tel: 0475012630

Cell: 0735559292

Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za