Gunpoint terror: Northern Cape man jailed for raping woman in front of her 2-year-old child

The Kimberley Sexual Offences Court has delivered a heavy sentence to 49-year-old Ernest Khoza for a violent 2018 crime that devastated a family in Warrenton. Khoza was found guilty of rape, housebreaking, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The court heard how Khoza and an accomplice, wearing balaclavas to hide their faces, forced their way into a home. During the invasion, they held a 37-year-old woman, her husband, and their two-year-old child at gunpoint.

Forensics Seal the Conviction

In a harrowing turn of events, the woman was raped while her toddler was present in the room. Despite the attackers' attempts to hide their identities, the prosecution relied on a mix of circumstantial evidence and a crucial DNA match to link Khoza to the scene.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that forensic analysis was the deciding factor in securing the conviction. While Khoza was held accountable, his co-accused, Thabang Molebedi, was acquitted as the court found insufficient evidence to place him at the crime scene.

A Lifetime Ban on Firearms

Khoza received 15 years for the robbery and another 15 years for the rape charge. With five years of these terms set to run concurrently, he will serve an effective 25 years in a correctional facility.

Beyond the prison time, the court has declared Khoza unfit to possess a firearm. His details have also been officially recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders.

NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane stated that the sentence serves as a firm message against gender-based violence. He expressed hope that the conclusion of the legal battle brings a sense of closure to the victim and her family.