Man sentenced to life imprisonment plus ten years for rape
Man sentence to life imprisonment plus ten years for rape
The Tzaneen Regional Court convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old man, Clifford Baloyi to life imprisonment plus ten years for two counts of rape. This emanates from an incidents that took place in June 2017 at Lwandlamuni village. Baloyi would target women from Nwamitwa village, accost and force them to secluded areas at knifepoint where he would then rape them. One of his victims was a minor girl of 14 years. The accused was unknown to the victims and the community.
During the trial, Baloyi pleaded not guilty to all charges and the Regional Court Prosecutor led the testimonies of the victims and medical doctor. The accused was also linked by DNA. The prosecutor also submitted Victim Impact Statements (VIS) detailing how the incidents negatively impacted on the victims. Victims expressed the humiliation and trauma they suffered because of the ordeals. The court found him guilty as charged.
In arguing for an appropriate sentence, the prosecutor, Emmanuel Phatudi submitted to the court that rape is a serious offence which is humiliating, degrading and also a brutal act which invades privacy and dignity of victims. He submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a lesser sentence and that the court should not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Regional Court Magistrate, Mrs Antolize Lamminga agreed with the state and remarked that the manner in which he committed the offences shows that women are not safe to walk in the public freely and he was not remorseful. One of the victims is now suffering from depression because of the incident, she added.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence and hope that the imposed sentence will indeed send a strong message to would be offenders and further commended the prosecution team and investigating officer Sergeant Mulungwa of Family Violence Child and Sexual Offences in Tzaneen.
Issued by,
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Limpopo Division