MAN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF 14-YEAR OLD

Springbok, Northern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the conviction and sentencing of 25-year-old Majid Ali Jabber by the Springbok Regional Court on 7 October 2026. Jabber, a Pakistani national who was in South Africa unlawfully, was convicted of rape and contravening the Immigration Act.

He was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for rape and two years’ direct imprisonment for the immigration offence. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

The complainant’s identity is withheld to protect her privacy and dignity.

The court heard that on 7 August 2022, the 14-year-old complainant went to a shop near Kommagas, a settlement close to Springbok. When she could not find the items she needed, she went to another shop. She noticed Jabber following her, although she did not know him.

At the second shop, the shop owner, who knew the complainant, asked her to fetch something from a room at the back. Jabber grabbed her, pulled her into the room and raped her. She later returned home and told her grandmother. The matter was reported to the police, and Jabber was arrested that same day. He remained in custody until the trial was finalised.

The complainant was taken to the Springbok Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), where she received support from trained personnel. TCCs provide coordinated, victim-centred care to survivors of sexual offences.

During the trial, the State called two witnesses and presented documentary evidence, including DNA results and transcripts of bail proceedings in which Jabber denied having sexual contact with the complainant.

 Jabber testified in his defence. After considering the evidence, the court found that the State had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted him of rape and contravening the Immigration Act.

During sentencing proceedings, the defence argued that substantial and compelling circumstances justified a departure from the prescribed minimum sentence. It relied on Jabber’s status as a first offender and the four years and two months he had spent in custody awaiting trial.

In aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp submitted that Jabber had shown no remorse and that the seriousness of the offences required an appropriate sentence. The State argued that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence, and that the time spent in custody awaiting trial did not warrant a reduction.

The court found that substantial and compelling circumstances existed to justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence. 

In addition to the custodial sentences, Jabber was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unsuitable to work with children.

The NPA remains committed to prosecuting perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide and seeking sentences that reflect the seriousness of these offences.

 The NPA will continue to work with law-enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors and protect vulnerable members of our communities.

Issued by:

Mojalefa Senokoatsane

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Northern Cape Division