The Mankweng Regional Court sentenced traditional healer Andries
Malatjie (37) to life imprisonment on a charge of rape.
The court heard that in 2016 the accused raped a 20-year-old woman in the bushes at Sebayeng village.
Malatjie asked the complainant to accompany him to the bushes to dig up some herbs.
National prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the victim accompanied him since Malatjie is well-known traditional healer.
She said once in the bushes Malatjie turned violent and assaulted her until she became weak and that's when he rape her.
He then carried her to his homestead where he continued to rape her and kept her there until the next morning.
During the trial, Malatjie pleaded not guilty and he claimed that the complainant had consented to the sexual intercourse. The court rejected his version and found him guilty as charged.
During sentencing, Advocate Masehela Makgomothi, argued that the court has to consider that the accused betrayed the trust that the complainant had in him as her traditional healer.
He further argued that it was more aggravating that the complainant was raped more than once and she was also inflicted with injuries during the incident.
The Court agreed with the state and sentenced the Malatjie to life imprisonment.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga said women and children are not safe in their communities therefore the sentence would go a long way in sending a loud message that violence against women and children will not be tolerated .
