A teenage girl has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of raping another teenage girl in Calvinia, Northern Cape, in a case that police say presented unusual investigative challenges because both the accused and complainant were minors and had previously been in a relationship.
The accused, who was 15 at the time of the incident, was sentenced to seven years’ direct imprisonment by the Calvinia Regional Court on Thursday, after being found guilty of rape in terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act.
The case arose from an incident on September 13, 2024, when the 16 year old complainant went to a local tavern with friends and encountered her former girlfriend.
Later that evening, the accused accompanied the complainant to her residence. Police said that, once there, the accused forcibly penetrated the complainant with the handle of an Okapi knife without her consent.
The complainant reported the incident to the accused’s parents and the police shortly afterwards and was taken for medical treatment.
The accused was arrested and subsequently released into the care of her parents.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Ivan Magerman said the successful prosecution demonstrated the importance of thorough investigations in sexual-offence cases, even where the circumstances are complex.
“Sexual offences are treated with the utmost seriousness, and every available piece of evidence is carefully considered to ensure that justice is served,” Magerman said.
The investigation was conducted by Warrant Officer David Matthys of the Calvinia Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
Police said the case presented particular difficulties because the two teenagers had previously been in a relationship and there were no eyewitnesses to the alleged assault.
Despite the absence of eyewitnesses, investigators gathered and secured the available evidence and worked with the prosecution to build the case that ultimately resulted in a conviction.
Namakwa District Commissioner Brigadier Schalk Andrews commended Matthys for his investigative work and also praised prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp for successfully presenting the case before the court.
Magerman said the sentence reinforced the principle that the circumstances or age of an accused would not prevent SAPS from pursuing allegations of sexual offences where sufficient evidence existed.
“This outcome sends a clear message that perpetrators of sexual offences, including juveniles, will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” he said.
The conviction also highlights the role of SAPS’s FCS units in investigating sexual offences involving children and other vulnerable victims.
Police urged children and members of the public not to remain silent about sexual offences, and to report incidents to SAPS or other appropriate authorities.
The case is another example of the increasingly complex nature of sexual offence investigations involving minors, where investigators must balance the protection of children with the requirements of criminal justice.
SAPS said it would continue to investigate sexual offences thoroughly and pursue prosecutions where sufficient evidence exists.