MASAKONA – Mr Madembe Joseph Magoma (19) of Masakona village will spend the next fifteen years in jail. His rape case was finalised in the Venda High Court last Friday.

The incident relating to the case took place at Masakona Village during the evening of January 17 last year, at about 19:00.

The court heard that during the night of the incident the four-year-old victim was playing with other children outside the house. At that stage her mother was busy cooking in the kitchen. Realising that it was becoming too dark outside, the children decided to disperse and went to their respective homes. The victim's mother then noticed that her daughter was missing.

With the help from other members of the family, the victim's mother started searching for the girl everywhere in the house. After a long search they noticed the accused carrying the victim on his back.

The accused was coming in their direction from the nearby abandoned house. When he got closer to the complainant's house he put the toddler down and ran away. The complainant and the other people tried to chase the accused but he vanished in the surrounding bushes.

The girl's mother examined her and discovered that she was bleeding from her private parts. She was then taken to hospital where it was confirmed that she was raped. The accused was arrested a few days after the incident. He appeared in the district and regional courts for several times until the matter was referred to the High Court.

Although the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape the court found him guilty as charged and ordered him to stay in jail for fifteen years without the option of a fine.