The Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, and his management have welcomed the recent conviction and sentencing of Wilken Klonkie Cloete (23) in the Garies Regional Court.
Cloete was sentenced on 3 February 2026 for a rape committed on 31 October 2024. Between 22:00 and 23:00 that night, the accused unlawfully entered a residence on George Street in Leliefontein and brutally raped a 15-year-old girl.
The court heard that the victim was watching television with a young child when Cloete, who was known to her, entered the room. He covered her mouth to silence her and committed the act while her elderly great-aunt slept elsewhere in the house.
Following the incident, the victim reported the crime to a family member, who immediately contacted the police. Cloete was arrested on 1 November 2024. He remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings.
On 3 February 2026, the Garies Magistrate’s Court handed down a 20-year prison sentence. Cloete was subsequently incarcerated.
Brigadier Andrews commended the investigating officer, Constable Nqabisa Sishuba, for her meticulous investigation, and the prosecutor, Mr. Basil Kock, for the collaborative effort in securing justice for the victim.
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