Bothaville: The 42-year-old, Papi Mokereretla, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal rape of a mentally challenged 15-year-old minor. The sentence was handed down by the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court.
According to South African Police Service, on 22 July 2023, the victim was lured by the accused under the pretext of buying electricity. The victim, who was playing at a neighbour’s house where Mokereretla also resided, was instructed to meet him at a shop after jumping a back fence.
As they walked, the complainant expressed unfamiliarity with the route, but Mokereretla insisted they continue. The complainant was then led to a secluded area at the end of the location with trees and a ditch. The suspect forced her into the ditch, undressed her and proceeded to rape her.
Traumatized, she did not immediately report the incident to her family. However, the following day at school, she bravely confided in a friend, who subsequently informed the Principal. A case was promptly opened with the Bothaville SAPS, leading to the initiation of the investigation.
Sergeant Mmila Raleting from Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, meticulously gathered evidence, and the State, led by Prosecutor T. Lebitsa, presented a strong case. The court, after a vigorous address from the State, convicted Papi Mokereretla and sentenced him of life imprisonment.
This conviction sends a clear message that crimes against vulnerable individuals, particularly children and those with disabilities, will be met with the full might of the law.