Man pleads guilty to raping a sister

Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday July 14, 2015 14:17

The accused, whose names cannot be released to protect the victim’s identity, entered his own plea of guilty when facts of the matter were read to him on Monday.

The man committed the offence on July 7, 2015 at Matsiloje village, 45 kilometres east of Francistown.

Public prosecutor Inspector James told Principal Magistrate Sijabuliso Siziba that the state is yet to ascertain if the accused has previous convictions or not.

The accused pleaded with the court to grant him bail saying conditions in prison are not conducive for living.

Siziba told him that he cannot be granted bail since he has pleaded guilty to the offence that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail.

The accused is due in court on July 27 for mitigation and sentence.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man from Makomoto appeared in court facing three counts of rape.

The state alleges that Kagiso Muzila molested a 13-year-old girl at Matsiloje on February 8, 2014.

In the second count, the state alleges that Muzila had sex with a nine-year-old girl at Matsiloje on February 8, 2014.

In the last count, the state alleges that Muzila raped a 21-year-old woman on August 2, 2014 at Matsiloje.

Moikwatlhai told the court that the parents of the complainants know the accused and they usually give him accommodation whenever he visits Matsiloje from Makomoto.

He opposed bail noting that the accused had a penchant of having sex with women without their consent.

 “We fear that the accused may commit similar crimes if he is granted bail. He has been on the run and we recently arrested him at Sekukwe cattlepost. In addition our investigations into the matters are still continuing,” said Moikwatlhai. Moikwatlhai added: “The accused is facing a similar charge in Court One before Chief Magistrate Gaedupe Makghato that he recently committed in Tonota whilst still on the run from us. Also, we are yet to register another rape case that he recently committed whilst on the run from us. This clearly shows that the accused is not a good candidate for bail”.

Muzila told the magistrate that it is true that he is facing another rape charge in court one. Siziba remanded the accused in custody to allow the police to complete their investigations. He also said that the police fear that Muzila may commit similar charges if given bail.