MARA - The Mara Regional Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old girl at Kildare B Trust last year in August.

The court heard that Joseph Khoza (20) met the girl, who was coming from a shop. He grabbed the girl from behind and pulled her into the nearby bushes where he repeatedly raped her.

When passing sentence, the magistrate said that children have the right to play everywhere, without the danger of abuse.

"The court has to sentence you to ten years imprisonment, so that it will send a clear message to the community that no one is above the law," the magistrate said.

Insp Thulane Maphanga said he was satisfied with the court's judgement and that crimes against women and children could not be tolerated.

In another, similar incident, a 14-year-old girl was raped at Manyii village, Nzhelele last Saturday.

Insp. Abel Thavha reported that the suspect arrived at the victim's home and tempted her with a loaf of bread. After eating the bread with the victim, he sent her to fetch water in the kitchen. Immediately when the victim entered the kitchen, he followed her and forced her to the bedroom, where he raped her.

By the time of going to press, the suspect was still at large, but the Dzanani police know his name.