Rape convict to serve 15 years
10 Jul 2025
Senior Magistrate of Letlhakane Magistrate Court, Ms Atlanang Manchwe has sentenced Onneile Mothibi (32) to 15 years imprisonment for defiling an 8-year-old in Letlhakane in 2022.
Delivering the sentence, Ms Manchwe said the circumstances and facts under which the offence was committed were disturbing, given the age of complainant. She said the victim was raped by man who she trusted as they had regular interactions at the victim’s mother’s shebeen.
She said the accused person had ripped the girl off of her normal childhood, as she was left with both emotional and physical scars. Therefore, the magistrate noted that she had found no exceptional extenuating circumstances in this matter, hence the 15-year jail term.
The Senior Magistrate also sentenced 24-year-old Austin Letsholo for convictions of two counts of rape and one count of robbery, which are said to have happened in Letlhakane between January 18-19, 2022.
The two counts of rape were committed on siblings in view of each other, while there were also children in the house, who witnessed the act. For count one of rape, the senior magistrate sentenced the accused to 10 years and another 10 years for count two, while for the count three, he was slapped with five years.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the accused person shall serve 15 years for the three counts, while the sentences shall run consecutively to the 15 years that he is already serving and there shall be no back dating,” she said.
Senior Magistrate Manchwe noted that the accused person had proved to be a serial rapist. She decried rampant sexual offences in her jurisdiction. She therefore said the court bore the duty to ensure that criminals or rapists were punished accordingly in an endeavour to show its displeasure and appreciation of societal needs. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Kabo Keaketswe
Location : Letlhakane
Event : Court case
Date : 10 Jul 2025
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