The man who raped two minor girls was sentenced to three life terms by the Mothibistad Regional Court in the Northern Cape. Itumeleng Prichard Masilabele was found guilty of three counts of rape last month.

RAPE INCIDENT

The first charge relates to the rape of an 11-year-old girl victim in 2018. Due to the age of the victim at the time of the rape, she could not precisely exactly when the rape happened in 2018. The second charge relates to the same victim but this time, the victim was raped in June 2019 whilst she was 12 years old and the rape was finally reported to the police. The third charge relates to a different victim who was also a 12-year-old when she was raped by the accused in June 2019.

MODUS OPERANDI

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the court heard that the 59-year-old rapist was a resident of Seven Miles Village, in Kuruman, where he used to invite young girls from the village to watch television at his house."His modus operandi was that at some point, he would chase away any other girls present except for his victims. He would then proceed to lock his house and play pornographic videos and watch with his victim," Senokoatsane said. It is alleged that after watching pornography, the accused would proceed to rape the victim and thereafter give them money between R7 and R25. Before allowing the victim to leave, the accused would threaten her with violence or death if they told anyone. "One victim was admitted to the hospital due to severe damage to her vaginal area, which required immediate medical intervention. During the trial, the accused admitted to having another sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in the village, which he indicated to be his friend," Senokoatsane added.

THE GIRLS WERE THREATENED WITH VIOLENCE

Senokoatsane further said that the state further argued that by the accused's admission, he has a sexual preference for young girls. "His modus operandi was indicative of him being a serial rapist and that the rehabilitation prospects of a serial rapist are slim," he said. The state further argued that it was the accused who used his standing as an elderly person in the community, to lure the victims who trusted him, not knowing he would take advantage of them.

HE IS A PEADOPHILE

During sentencing, the magistrate stated that the accused's behaviour merits him to be called a paedophile and that the damage that he has caused to the young girls, is immeasurable, and further that these young girls will carry the emotional scars caused by the accused for the rest of their lives. "The accused, after a lengthy judgment, was found guilty as charged on all counts. The accused was ultimately sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment, all to run concurrently. The accused was furthermore declared unfit to possess a firearm; his name was ordered to be added to National Register for Sex Offenders and he was declared unsuitable to work with children," he said.