REGIONAL COURT SENTENCES RAPIST TO 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
09 September 2025
REGIONAL COURT SENTENCES RAPIST TO 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
Carnarvon, Northern Cape – The Carnarvon Regional Court has sentenced Jonathan Neels (43) to 12 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape of a 19-year-old woman. The sentencing was delivered on 08 September 2025.
The incident took place on 28 July 2024, around 2:00 PM, when the complainant asked to use the toilet at the home of Neels’ grandmother, who was on the stoep. As the complainant headed to the back of the house, Neels followed her, forcibly undressed her, and raped her. Her screams alerted a neighbour, Neels’ cousin, Fergus Hooring, who intervened, physically removing Neels. Shortly after, the complainant suffered an epileptic attack, prompting her mother’s assistance and a police report.
The state, led by Prosecutor Xolisa March, relied on testimonies from the complainant, Engela Neels (the accused’s grandmother), and Hooring. After the state’s case, Neels made 220 admissions, including that he had non-consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant. In aggravation, March argued that Neels exploited a vulnerable woman and only admitted guilt due to the overwhelming evidence. A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Trott Manghana, detailed the complainant’s trauma and suffering.
This conviction and sentence reaffirm the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) commitment to protecting women’s rights and delivering justice for gender-based violence survivors. The NPA aggressively prosecutes such cases, safeguarding the constitutional rights to dignity and privacy. Ends
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
073 423 3539