MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS' DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR ASSAULT

10 July 2025

MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS' DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR ASSAULT

Tlhabane, North West – The Tlhabane Regional Court has sentenced Andrew Modisane (29) to 10 years of direct imprisonment after convicting him of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, read with Section 51(2) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on 31 August 2024, when the victim visited Modisane’s home and found her boyfriend intoxicated. Evidence presented in court revealed that Modisane and the victim were in a romantic relationship at the time.

An argument broke out after the victim confronted Modisane about suspected infidelity. In a fit of rage, Modisane grabbed a knife from the table and stabbed her multiple times. During the altercation, the glass he had been drinking from shattered on the floor. He then pushed the victim, causing her to fall onto the broken glass, which inflicted additional injuries.

Modisane fled the scene after the assault and was arrested on 25 September 2024. He was denied bail and has remained in custody since his arrest.

Modisane pleaded guilty to the charge. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Nolubabalo Cele argued that, due to the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV), the court should not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and must send a strong message to perpetrators.

In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Paul Moeng highlighted that the accused had a prior conviction for a similar offence and had clearly not learned from previous consequences. The court found no substantial and compelling circumstances to warrant deviation from the minimum sentence and accordingly imposed a 10-year prison term.

Welcoming the sentence, Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, commended the prosecution and law enforcement teams for their diligent work in bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains committed to prosecuting cases of assault, including domestic and gender-based violence, and ensuring justice for victims.

Issued by:

Sivenathi Gunya
Communications Officer – North West Division
National Prosecuting Authority
sgunya@npa.gov.za
078 172 9367