Life in prison for Bloemfontein man who raped 26-year-old with a mental disability
The Mangaung family violence and sexual offences unit secured the sentence in the Bloemfontein Regional Court, and the court barred Tholang Joseph Mashilishili from ever owning a firearm.
A Bloemfontein man will spend the rest of his life in prison for raping a 26-year-old man with a mental disability.
Tholang Joseph Mashilishili was convicted in the Regional Court in Bloemfontein on 19 October of rape in terms of Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. The court, presided over by Magistrate Mcilongo, sentenced him to life imprisonment. Prosecutor K. Leeuw led the case.
The rape took place in August 2024. The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Phiri of the Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit, which the police credited with securing the conviction.
The court made two further orders. Mashilishili’s name is to be entered in the National Register for Sex Offenders under Section 50 of Act 32 of 2007. He has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm under Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
The National Register for Sex Offenders bars those listed from working with children or people with mental disabilities, and from holding a range of positions that bring them into contact with them.
The South African Police Service announced the sentence on its official account on Monday.
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