Moganedi Sello Koos, 40, was sentenced to life in prison by the Thabamoopo Regional Court in Limpopo, South Africa, for raping his girlfriend’s 16-year-old daughter.
Koos was sentenced on October 31, 2023, after being found guilty of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The rape occurred about 4 a.m. on April 16, 2017, at Magatle village, according to Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, who announced this in a statement on Wednesday, November 1.
The teenage girl was alone at home, according to the court, and her mother had gone to the cemetery for a candlelight vigil.
The accused (Koos), who happened to be her mother’s boyfriend, forced his way into the victim’s home and threatened her with a knife if she did not comply. “He then ordered the girl to undress and raped her,” Mashaba explained.
He then robbed the boy of two cellphones and fled the scene.
“The incident was reported to the police, who opened cases of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances,” Mashaba said in a statement.
“The case was referred to Mokopane’s family violence, child protection, and sexual offences unit for further investigation.” Sergeant Mogale Billy was assigned to further examine the situation.
Koos was arrested in June 2020 after police said DNA linked him to the terrible murder.
“The investigating officer managed to oppose bail until the accused was found guilty,” Mashaba told reporters.
“The accused was convicted and sentenced on the following charges – count one of rape, Koos was sentenced to life imprisonment; and on count two, of robbery with aggravating circumstances, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.”
Both sentences will run at the same time.
Koos was also found unsuitable to possess a firearm, and his information will be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenses.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, has hailed the harsh sentencing.
“This sentence makes it abundantly clear that crime does not pay.” “It is our responsibility as parents to protect and secure our children, not to leave them unattended,” Hadebe stated.
