LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR CONVICTED RAPIST IN KIMBERLEY
13 February 2026
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR CONVICTED RAPIST IN KIMBERLEY
Kimberley, Northern Cape - The Kimberley Regional Court has sentenced Ernest Beukus (50), who was 43 at the time of the offence, to life imprisonment for raping a vulnerable 15-year-old girl. He has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm under the Firearms Control Act.
The brutal assault took place on 19 October 2019 in Roodepan, Kimberley. While the victim, a student with special needs who suffers from epilepsy, was walking to extra classes on a Saturday morning, Beukus forcibly dragged her into an abandoned building, threatened her with a knife, and raped her. The victim reported the incident to a teacher the following Monday, prompting immediate police involvement.
Through a thorough investigation, authorities arrested Beukus and charged him with rape. He remained in custody throughout the proceedings, as the prosecution successfully opposed his bail application. Given the victim's special needs, the trial incorporated sensitive measures led by Advocate Nicola van Niekerk. These included the use of specially weighted dolls to aid her testimony.
A comprehensive Victim Impact Statement, prepared by Lerato Modisane, powerfully detailed the profound and lasting trauma endured by the victim, who collapsed several times while testifying. This life sentence delivers a clear message: sexual violence, particularly against vulnerable community members, will face the full force of the law. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stresses that gender-based violence remains a national crisis, described by the President as a pandemic plaguing South African communities.
The NPA urges all citizens, families, schools, law enforcement, and civil society to unite in prevention, protection of the vulnerable, and support for survivors. By staying vigilant, reporting crimes promptly, and breaking the silence, society can weaken perpetrators and build safer spaces for women and children everywhere.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
073 423 3539