29 May 2018

The long-scheduled Mmopane Block 1 rape and robbery case kick-started Monday (May 28) before Broadhurst Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini-N’gandu with the first state witness (victim) giving evidence in camera to protect her identity.

Giving evidence in chief before the somewhat empty and cold courtroom, the second state witness, who is also a brother to the 16-year-old victim, noted that he was alerted by her aunt who stays in Letlhakeng that his sister had been raped by their neighbour.

Atang (surname withheld) noted that at the time he was staying in Gaborone West and he immediately rushed to Mmopane Block 1 where he did not find his sister until the next day at Partial location in Gaborone.

He said he collected her and decided to head to Gaborone West to consult his friend, but on the way, he asked her what happened on the eve of Botswana’s 51st independence in 2017.

Atang said his sister told him what happened, but said she was confused and scared of reporting the ordeal to the police more so that it was her first time to meet such a gruesome act of violence meted on her.

She also said during the rape her assailant threatened to kill her if she ever screamed.

She said she had positively identified the face of the assailant who had earlier on peeped through the boundary wall partition saw him often since they were neighbours.

The accused, the court heard, was relatively new in the area and was staying with his relative known as Rasta, who is also destined to give evidence.

He reportedly gained entry into the house by forcing the sitting room window open.

In the meantime, Atang told the court that though his sister, just like him, did not know the names of the accused by then, she was positive of the accused identity.

It was also under cross-examination from the accused that he got to know his name from Rasta.

Atang also told the court that Rasta informed him that they were relatives.

He further told the court under cross-examination that the accused was the one who handed himself to the police before they, in turn, called him to ask whether he was the brother of the alleged victim.

His bail conditions were that he was to sign a bond of P1 000, not to interfere with the victim and possible state witnesses, not to be involved in any sexual or any criminal offence, to report to Mogoditshane Police Station every two weeks and attend all court sessions.

The accused, who has a son back home, allegedly committed the crimes in Mmopane Block 1 and vanished into thin air, but on October 2, 2017 presented himself before Mogoditshane Police Station, where he told officers that he was responsible for the said crimes.

On the first count, the court heard that on September 29, 2017, at Mmopane Block 1 in the Kweneng District the accused sexually assaulted a certain young lady.

On the second count, the accused is said to have on the same occasion robbed his victim of a black Vodacom Android cellular phone valued at P500, five 200ml Tropical mango juices valued at P60, 1kg Nutri Day double cream yoghurt valued at P23 and 5kg chicken braai pack valued at P150.

The accused is said to have used violence on the said victim during the commission of the crime. ENDS