Mohale FM The Qacha’s Nek Magistrate Court has sentenced 20 year-old Refuoe Mpho Makhetha of ’Malinyane, Mohale’s Hoek to 10 years’ jail-time without fine for raping a four-year-old girl.
Makhetha pleaded guilty of sexually assaulting the minor on October 16, 2025 at Sekhutloaneng.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, the child was playing with Makhetha, her neighbour, then Makhetha allegedly laid a mattress on the floor and told the child to lie on it.
She then undressed the child, removing her trousers and underwear, and inserted her finger into the child’s private parts. After the assault, the accused allegedly warned the child not to report what had happened. However, while being bathed, the young girl complained to her grandmother about the pain in her private part.
Upon noticing physical signs of injury, the grandmother reported the matter to the Sekake Police Station, which gave them the medical form and referred the child to Sekake Clinic and later transferred to Machabeng Government Hospital for further examination.
Medical evidence presented in court confirmed that there was an injury in the complainant’s private part and friction was observed.
The defence did not object to the medical report being admitted as evidence. In mitigation, Advocate Lentsoe pleaded for leniency, citing her client’s guilty plea, cooperation with authorities, youth, and family responsibilities, including caring for her 65 year-old mother. However, the court found that these factors could not outweigh the gravity of the crime.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ponts’o Jankie-Lehasa emphasised the court’s constitutional duty to protect children and uphold their rights, noting that the accused had violated not only the law but also the trust placed in her.The The The Big Lie and
