Staff Writer /25, Tue Nov 2025
The Sexual Offences Court in Kimberley in the Northern Cape has sentenced a 45-year-old man, Zwelitsha Lebetsneng, to 22 years’ direct imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old boy he had known since childhood.
Lebetsneng was convicted in October 2025 under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act after the court found that he had taken advantage of his role as a trusted family friend.
The sentencing was finalised in November.
NPA regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane (NPA), the incident took place on 24 August 2024 at the victim’s home.
Lebetsneng visited the house knowing the teenager was alone.
He then ordered the boy to perform oral sex on him. The traumatised victim reported the attack to a neighbour immediately after the ordeal, leading to Lebetsneng’s swift arrest.
He was denied bail from his first court appearance on 29 August 2024 until the end of the trial. The victim received medical, psychological and court-preparation support from the Galeshewe Thuthuzela Care Centre throughout the legal process.
The NPA commended Court Preparation Officer Lindokuhle Sikhakhane for assisting the teenager and helping compile the Victim Impact Statement.
During sentencing, State prosecutor Advocate Tevaughnay van Wyk argued that Lebetsneng posed a continued danger to society and that the harsh sentence was necessary to deter similar offences.
The State also emphasised that the victim is part of the LGBTI+ community, a group legally recognised as vulnerable and deserving of heightened constitutional protection.
In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered that Lebetsneng’s name be entered into both the National Register for Sexual Offenders and the National Child Protection Register, barring him from working with or gaining access to children and other vulnerable groups.
Senokoatsane said the sentence demonstrates the justice system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
“Sexual crimes violate the fundamental rights to dignity, bodily integrity and privacy. The NPA will continue to prosecute such cases vigorously to ensure justice is served,” Senokoatsane said.
News Junction (Gold Standard)