The Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court has sentenced Mxolisi Lebeko (20) and Tumelo Mokoena (28) to 20 years of direct imprisonment each for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in 2023.
The sentencing was secured by the Phuthaditjhaba Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Magistrate Msimanga presided over the case. The state prosecution was led by Ms Nteo, while Detective Thabo Miffi of the Phuthaditjhaba FCS Unit served as the investigating officer.
The court heard that on 1 April 2023, at approximately 15:00, the victim was at a tavern in Makwane Village with a friend. While there, the group encountered three men. One of the men claimed to have lost his key and requested the victim’s assistance in locating it. The victim agreed and accompanied him to another room. Upon entering, the man closed the door, leaving her alone inside.
Shortly thereafter, the two accused, Lebeko and Mokoena, instructed their friend to leave. They then entered the room, locked the door, and proceeded to rape the victim. After the assault, they locked her inside the room, informing her that they would return. The victim managed to escape through a bedroom window and reported the incident to the police the following day.