Bloemfontein court jails Lesotho man for ten years over knife attack on girl, 16
Baisil Steyn was sentenced to an additional two years for immigration violations after the Bloemfontein Regional Court heard he lived in South Africa illegally.
The Bloemfontein Regional Court has sentenced a 40-year-old Lesotho citizen, Baisil Steyn, to ten years imprisonment for attempted rape and a further two years for contravening the Immigration Act.
The South African Police Service, which released the details in a media statement, said the sentencing follows an incident on 28 April 2024 in which the accused pursued a 16-year-old girl and threatened her with a knife.
According to the police account, the girl tried to escape and sought refuge in a nearby residence. The accused forced his way into the home and damaged property in an attempt to reach her. The homeowner and his son rescued her, and the accused was arrested immediately.
Detective Sergeant Bokamoso Shanice Peter led the investigation, which established that the accused is a Lesotho citizen living in South Africa illegally. She opposed bail successfully and presented the evidence the court relied on, even though the accused denied all the allegations against him.
The court handed down ten years for the attempted rape and an additional two years for being in the country illegally.
The police service commended Detective Sergeant Peter for her work, saying it reflected a commitment to removing perpetrators of violence against women and children from society.
The statement is a police summary of the case and the sentence, not the court record itself.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), Foreign national sentenced to ten years imprisonment for attempted rape and 2 years for immigration violations
