Man sentenced to 20 years for raping 95-year-old womanWriting

A 28-year-old man from Sesalong village has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison for raping a 95-year-old woman.

The Polokwane High Court sentenced the man to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for rape and a further eight years for housebreaking with intent to rape. The sentences will run concurrently.

The court also ordered that he be registered on the National Register for Sex Offenders. His identity has been withheld to protect the elderly victim from further victimisation.

The accused pleaded guilty under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act. He admitted that he knew the woman as the grandmother of his friend.

The court heard that on 4 October 2025, he went to the woman’s home looking for his friend. After finding the doors unlocked, he entered the house and found the woman alone.

He told her he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her. When she refused, he overpowered and raped her twice before fleeing.

Community members apprehended him the following day and handed him over to police. DNA evidence later linked him to the crime.

A Victim Impact Statement revealed the profound emotional impact of the attack. The woman said she felt humiliated, disgraced and deeply disrespected, particularly because she regarded the accused as a great-grandchild.

The State argued that his intoxication, youthfulness and remorse did not amount to substantial and compelling circumstances and urged the court to impose life imprisonment.

Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence, saying it demonstrated the NPA’s commitment to justice for victims of gender-based violence, particularly vulnerable members of society.