The Welkom Regional Court has sentenced a 40-year-old man to an effective 18 years’ imprisonment for the sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman in Thabong.
The court heard that on 23 December 2024 at approximately 07:15, the victim was asleep in her residence with her boyfriend. She heard a knock at the door but remained in bed. The suspect gained entry through an unlocked door and sexually assaulted the victim while she was in a semi-conscious state.
When the victim regained full consciousness, she discovered the suspect and attempted to scream. The assailant muffled her cries with his hand and continued the assault. The victim then alerted her sleeping boyfriend, who was attacked by the suspect with a beer bottle. The boyfriend blocked the strike, and the suspect fled the scene.
The couple reported the incident to the Thabong South African Police Service (SAPS). The case was assigned to Sergeant Themba Jilimba of the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Sergeant Jilimba traced and arrested the suspect, identified as the victim’s neighbour, Motsamai Samuel Tshabalala (40).
Working with Prosecutor Matthysen, the SAPS presented the case before the court. The Welkom Regional Court found Tshabalala guilty of rape and sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment. He received an additional three years for burglary.
The Free State SAPS stated it remains committed to prioritising gender-based violence cases.