The Bothaville Regional Court handed down a decisive judgment on Friday, 29 May 2026, sentencing a 34-year-old man to life imprisonment on two separate counts of rape for sexually abusing his minor stepdaughter.
The Free State Police endorsed the ruling, noting that the verdict reinforces the legal system’s zero-tolerance stance toward gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), affirming that justice remains accessible regardless of the time elapsed since the offenses.
Court records and official police briefings confirm that the crimes took place in 2017 and 2018, while the survivor was attending primary school. During the 2017 incident, the victim arrived home from classes to find her stepfather hosting friends. When she entered her bedroom to change out of her uniform, the accused followed, forced her onto the bed, and committed rape. He then coerced her silence by threatening to evict both her and her mother from the residence.
A second assault occurred in 2018 under comparable conditions. The perpetrator again isolated the victim after school and repeated the threat of homelessness to prevent disclosure.
The investigation began when the accused voluntarily presented himself at the Bothaville police station, admitting to officers that he had raped someone. He provided a detailed account of the incidents and directed law enforcement to his home, where officials located the survivor, now 17 years old. In a formal interview, she corroborated that the assaults had occurred during her childhood.
Following her statement, authorities opened a formal case and arrested the suspect immediately. The matter was assigned to Constable Malearongwa Mokoena of the Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, who led a comprehensive investigation and secured essential evidence.
In partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), represented by State Prosecutor Mrs. Lebitsa, the investigative team built a robust case that resulted in a conclusive conviction.
The Bothaville Regional Court found the accused guilty on both rape charges and imposed a life sentence for each count.
In an official comment, the Free State Police stated that this judgment delivers an unequivocal message to all perpetrators of sexual violence: the law will pursue accountability without exception, and breaches of trust will not mitigate legal consequences.
Survivors of gender-based violence can access confidential support through the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, and accredited civil society organizations.