Man, 66, gets life for raping 11-year-old girl in Wesselsbron

The Wesselsbron Regional Court has sentenced a 66-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of an 11-year-old girl, the South African Police Service said in a statement.

The court heard that on Saturday, 15 February 2025 the girl was visiting her grandmother in Monyakeng, Wesselsbron. While she was playing out of her grandmother’s sight, the man, who is well known to her, lured her into a bedroom, locked the door and raped her.

Other minor children peeped through the keyhole and saw the man and the girl lying on the bed. They told the grandmother, who reported the matter to the police.

Preliminary investigations found that this was not the first time the man had sexually violated the girl. The first incident was dated as far back as 15 December 2024. The court further heard that he would give the girl money after each rape.

Warrant Officer Mabote Lebone of the Welkom Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit investigated the case, working with prosecutor Sephugu of the National Prosecuting Authority. The man was arrested and found guilty of rape.

Magistrate Randall handed down the life sentence on 22 October 2026. The court ordered that the man’s particulars be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

The Lejweleputswa District Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Tholie Afonso, welcomed the sentencing, saying it sends a clear message of zero tolerance for offenders of crimes committed against women and children. General Afonso said any action that undermines the rule of law will be dealt with decisively.

The statement was issued by Sergeant Palesa Thabana of the South African Police Service. The full statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72077. This report is based on that police summary of the case rather than the court record itself.