Northern Cape pastor jailed for 20 years for raping a minor

A 67-year-old pastor has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rape of an 11-year-old girl. 

The Kuruman Regional Court sentenced Peter Sechogela, of Tsineng, to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape he committed in August 2016 when the survivor was only 11 years old.

Evidence before the court revealed that Sechogela went to the victim’s home under the pretext of looking for her parents.

When he discovered that they were not at home, he remained on the premises, followed the child into the house and raped her.

The court heard that the accused was a pastor at the church attended by the victim and her family and was also a family friend of the victim’s grandfather.

In a statement released on Friday, NPA Regional Spokesperson Northern Cape Division, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the pastor’s position of trust and authority within both the church and the broader community was considered an aggravating factor and his actions “a gross betrayal of the confidence placed in him”.

“During the trial, Regional Court Prosecutor Kekeletso Lekota presented compelling evidence, including a Victim Impact Statement compiled with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Beauty Moreng, who provided support to the victim throughout the court process,” said the NPA.

The court heard how the incident left a profound and lasting impact on the survivor’s life.

The survivor also received comprehensive support through the Kuruman Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), where she was provided with integrated, victim-centred services aimed at addressing the physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of the offence.

The court heard Prosecutor Lekota’s arguments that the court should impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the offence and society’s condemnation of gender-based violence.

She submitted that, as a church leader, the accused ought to have served as a moral guide and protector of vulnerable community members, rather than becoming the perpetrator of such a heinous crime.

Lekota further emphasised that gender-based violence continues to devastate communities across South Africa and that faith leaders have a responsibility to lead efforts to combat this scourge, not contribute to it through criminal conduct against vulnerable members of society.

“The NPA welcomed the sentence imposed by the court, which sends a strong message that those who abuse positions of trust and authority to prey on vulnerable victims will face the full might of the law,” said NPA.

The prosecuting authority added that the sentence reaffirms the criminal justice system’s commitment to holding perpetrators of sexual offences accountable while ensuring that the voices of victims are heard.

IOL