15 Mar 2020

The magistrate court in Kanye on March 12 gave 24-year-old Thabiso Moemele until March 26 to make his final submissions after convicting him of a single count of attempted rape.

The unemployed man from Sau Ward in Thamaga was charged with attempted rape after he tried to have sexual intercourse with his cousin without her consent.

The incident took place on February 13, 2017 at Lepapa ward in Moshupa while the accused was sleeping in the same room with the then 17-year-old complainant.

Magistrate Daniel Nkau said evidence brought before court indicated that Moemele had a motive when he left his bed and proceeded to the complainant’s at around 2am.

He said there was no other explanation why the complainant woke up to find her panties at her knees and the accused on top of her.

The only reasonable explanation for the accused not waking her up was that he had intentions to rape her, said Magistrate Nkau.

The magistrate said the court was convinced that Molemele wanted to rape the complainant because the panties were the last garment covering the complainant’s private parts.

Moemele, the magistrate said, exposed her private organs with the intention of having sexual intercourse without her consent.

Magistrate Tau noted that the complainant cried when she woke up to find the accused on top of her and her panties at her knees.

Consequently, the court found Moemele guilty and gave him two weeks to file his submissions indicating circumstances which influenced him to commit the offence.

He was remanded in custody until his court appearance on March 26. Ends