Africa-Press – South-Africa. A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to two life terms, and an additional 30 years behind bars, for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl from Sebokeng in Gauteng.
The child was playing with friends near her grandmother’s home in Sebokeng in July 2021, when Aggripa Tshepo Matsoetlane lured her to his rented backroom, police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said.
“The grandmother went looking for her granddaughter when she did not return home after playing at the neighbour’s house.
Sello said:
She said Matsoetlane felt “cornered” and stabbed the grandmother before fleeing the scene with a black bag containing a “heavy substance”.
A search was launched for the missing child and Matsoetlane, and police found the child’s body buried in a mine hole near her grandmother’s home within 24 hours.
Matsoetlane was arrested a few days later.
Sello said the case was assigned to Captain Makonyane Piet Motsoeneng from the Sebokeng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
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“Motsoeneng meticulously pieced all the evidence together, which resulted in a watertight case against the accused in court.”
On Thursday, the Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm Ridge sentenced Matsoetlane to two life terms and an additional 30 years behind bars for rape and murder. Sello said he was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice and attempted murder.
Gauteng police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, commended the team for the swift finalisation of the case.
“This case was resolved and finalised within months, a clear indication that members of the South African Police Service remain committed to fighting crime against women, children, and vulnerable persons,” Mawela said.
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