A former City of Tshwane municipal worker has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and assaulting a 39-year-old woman after she stopped at a municipal building to use the toilet.
Matome Seloesa, 42, was convicted of raping the woman during a violent attack on 27 May 2023.
According to NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the victim was on her way to Sunnyside to visit a friend when she stopped at the municipal building and asked to use the toilet.
Seloesa followed her to the facility, locked her inside and repeatedly raped and assaulted her while threatening to kill her.
After the attack, Seloesa allegedly told the woman to remain inside the toilet while he went to buy food.
She managed to escape and approached a nearby police vehicle, where she immediately reported the rape.
However, while she was speaking to police, Seloesa approached and allegedly claimed that she was his girlfriend.
Mahanjana said the woman, believing that her complaint was not being taken seriously, ran to a nearby residence and told the occupants what had happened.
The residents helped her contact other police officers, resulting in Seloesa being arrested at his workplace later that day.
During the trial, Seloesa pleaded not guilty and claimed that the woman was both his girlfriend and a sex worker.
State prosecutor Sfiso Hlongwane, however, presented evidence including the victim’s testimony, which resulted in Seloesa being convicted beyond reasonable doubt.
During sentencing, Seloesa’s lawyer asked the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, citing his status as a first-time offender and his three minor children.
Hlongwane opposed the application, arguing that Seloesa had shown no remorse and had continued to claim that the victim was his girlfriend despite not knowing her.
Mahanjana said the State also argued that rape was a serious and heinous crime in which perpetrators use violence and intimidation to exert power and control over their victims.
A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Joyce Makwela, was presented to the court.
In the statement, the victim revealed that she had fallen pregnant as a result of the rape and was forced to terminate the pregnancy.
She continues to suffer medical complications stemming from the pregnancy, which have placed a financial burden on her.
The victim also told the court that the attack negatively affected her engagement and left her suffering from ongoing psychological trauma.
In sentencing Seloesa, the magistrate agreed with the State that he had shown no remorse and had exploited a vulnerable woman who had simply sought to use a public restroom.
The court also found that Seloesa was not the primary caregiver of his children, who live with their respective mothers.
Mahanjana said the magistrate noted that Seloesa had shown no mercy towards the victim, repeatedly threatening to kill her during the prolonged and violent assault.
The court further stressed the need to ensure that women are able to move freely and safely in society, saying sentences must send a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated.
With no substantial and compelling circumstances found to justify a lesser sentence, the court imposed life imprisonment.
“The sentence sends a strong message that sexual offences and all forms of gender-based violence will be met with the full force of the law,” Mahanjana said.
She said the NPA remained committed to supporting victims in their pursuit of justice and ensuring that perpetrators were held accountable.
“The sentence serves as a reminder that no one is above the law and that the criminal justice system will continue to prioritise the protection of women and vulnerable members of society,” Mahanjana said.
