Pretoria : 13 April 2018 – The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of a 29 year old mother in connection with the rape of her two month old baby.
In November last year, a doctor at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, informed the police in Meadowlands, Soweto that a severely injured two month old baby had been admitted to the hospital.
Sergeant Enez Lekgoathi of the Orlando Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) was tasked with the investigation. During the initial interview, the Meadowlands mother claimed that the child had fallen from the bed. However, medical test results revealed that the baby had been raped. The mother was arrested and charged in terms of Section 55 of the Child Protection Act (aiding and abetting), child abuse and defeating the ends of justice. She was detained since November 2017 after being denied bail. One of the reasons for her bail having been denied, was that during interviews with her, her version of what had happened to the baby continually changed.
This case was heard in the South Gauteng High Court since 6 November 2017. The prosecutor in this matter, Senior State Advocate Alivera Du Plooy and Sergeant Lekgoathi worked tirelessly together on this case and eventually achieved justice for the baby girl. The mother was convicted late last year and was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment despite the actual perpetrator not being identified as yet. This has set a precedent which will help prevent any person from shielding perpetrators of crime in future.
The National Commissioner praised both Sergeant Lekgoathi and Advocate Du Plooy for their hard work and dedication in this matter. “Protecting the innocent and vulnerable is what we seek to ensure on a daily basis and both Sergeant Lekgoathi and Advocate Du Plooy have excelled in this regard”, said General Khehla John Sitole.
“This may be little justice for the two month old baby but the outcome of this case will surely serve to deter such criminality from taking place again”, said General Sitole.
Spokesperson for the National Commissioner : Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo – 082 567 4153
NB. The identity of the mother will not be disclosed to protect the identity of the baby.
