Expected to deliver sentencing last week following his conviction and mitigation, Senior Magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi advanced the sentencing of rape-convicted Kabelo to the High Court. Ramakoloi cited issues of the jurisdiction hindering her from delivering the sentence. The presiding magistrate stated that as per the jurisdiction, she could only sentence Kabelo to a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years.
“We are held by the jurisdiction to deliver the right sentence to the rape-convicted Kabelo because the years that he is supposed to be sentenced to are more than 20 years in prison and I can only do a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years,” she said. Ramakoloi stated that Kabelo needs to pay the hefty price for the heinous crime he committed because not only did he commit a rape offence, he violated the child that he was supposed to nurture and protect. “If you are an offender and you are a parent or guardian your minimal punishment is 30 years. This is a huge crime where a child was raped by her father, therefore, it isn't business as usual and justice wouldn't be done if we don't do things right," she said. She further highlighted that Kabelo shouldn't go off lightly with sentencing.
