Bothaville man jailed for 10 years after conviction for raping teenager

Bothaville Regional Court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment for the statutory rape of a then teenage girl.

The man, who is from Kgotsong, Bothaville was found guilty by the court for the incident that emanated in November 2020.

He cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victim.

The court heard that, on the night of November 7, 2020 at about 22:30 in Kgotsong, the victim was from her grandmother’s place and on arrival at home, she noticed that there was no electricity.

It is alleged that she then went to her neighborhood and requested the accused to help with electrical fault. 

“They both went to her home and asked for a candle to check the electricity box, and the girl could not find it.

“The girl told him to leave since she could not find the candle. Before he left,  the girl asked him to borrow his bucket hat as she wanted to look beautiful when she go to the tavern,” read an evidence brought by the prosecutor in court.  

It is alleged that the accused said that, the minor should follow him to his house to collect the hat and she followed him.

“When they arrived at his place,  he told her to go and look for it in the bedroom as he was busy preparing food. 

“The girl was followed and the accused locked the door. The accused started strangling her, while she tried to fight back he overpowered her.

“He then unzipped her Jean trouser,  undressed himself and raped her,” further read the docket.

After the the rape ordeal, the accused told the victim to not tell anyone about the incident.

It is reported that victim told her sister about the incident.

Lejweleputswa police spokesperson captain Stephen Thakeng said the victim opened a case of rape, and the accused was apprehended and charged for statutory rape.