The judge lambasted a convicted serial rapist before sentencing him to 12 life terms yesterday in the Vereeniging Circuit Court of the High Court.
Judge J Strydom labelled Emmanuel Moeketsi Monyake, 34, a ruthless man with no mercy. His victims were mostly young girls aged between six and 10 years.
In addition to the 12 life terms for rape, Strydom gave him 35 years for kidnapping and a year for assaulting one victim.
One life term is 25 years, which means, combined with the sentences for kidnapping and assault, Monyake will serve 336 years in prison.
Monyake was arrested on January 12 last year in Sharpeville after he was handed over to police by the community. He was convicted on Wednesday following a lengthy trial. His rape spree lasted from 2010 until last year when he was arrested.
He targeted girls in Boipatong, Sharpeville and Vereeniging in the Vaal.
Some of his victims are HIV-positive and undergoing trauma counselling.
Monyake raped his young victims both vaginally and anally, tying one little girl to a tree as he sexually abused her.
When passing sentence, Strydom said sentencing is about achieving a balance in proportionality, including the crimes committed, the offender and the interests of society.
"The society is outraged. The purpose of sentence is a deterrence for other members of the community, to deter individuals from committing offences, to protect society from harm and to serve society's desire for retribution.
"The court must question the issue of remorse. Remorse is a growing conscience on the part of another. No action of remorse was taken by the accused prior and during the trial. In my view it is not genuine remorse. He is simply sorry for himself after being faced with sentence.
"Rape is an intrusion of the most private rights of a human being, in particular a girl and a woman.
"It is a violation of one's rights to dignity which is enshrined in the constitution," he said, adding that "society wants people [criminals] to be dealt with sternly and decisively".
He said Monyake preyed on vulnerable girls, luring them with a promise of buying them chips and thereafter raping them.
Strydom added that rape was a type of inhumane treatment that could not be tolerated.
Monyake was denied leave to appeal and his name will be included in the sexual offences register.
Victims' parents left with big burden
Parents of the young victims who were kidnapped and raped by Monyake are left with a huge burden.
Some complained that the young girls are now HIV-positive.
"I am raising a young girl who [now] can't cope at school. Her behaviour has changed a lot and she has anger and is aggressive towards other children," one mother said.
An angry father said: Monyake raped his daughter aged 10 in 2014 in Boipatong.
"He betrayed our trust. We trusted him and allowed him to spend the night at our home.
"My daughter was badly injured and she is trying to cope, although it is hard," he said. "She is still attending trauma counselling and I pray that she be healed emotionally."
Tongue lashing and 12 life terms for rapist
The judge lambasted a convicted serial rapist before sentencing him to 12 life terms yesterday in the Vereeniging Circuit Court of the High Court.
Judge J Strydom labelled Emmanuel Moeketsi Monyake, 34, a ruthless man with no mercy. His victims were mostly young girls aged between six and 10 years.
In addition to the 12 life terms for rape, Strydom gave him 35 years for kidnapping and a year for assaulting one victim.
One life term is 25 years, which means, combined with the sentences for kidnapping and assault, Monyake will serve 336 years in prison.
Monyake was arrested on January 12 last year in Sharpeville after he was handed over to police by the community. He was convicted on Wednesday following a lengthy trial. His rape spree lasted from 2010 until last year when he was arrested.
He targeted girls in Boipatong, Sharpeville and Vereeniging in the Vaal.
Some of his victims are HIV-positive and undergoing trauma counselling.
Monyake raped his young victims both vaginally and anally, tying one little girl to a tree as he sexually abused her.
When passing sentence, Strydom said sentencing is about achieving a balance in proportionality, including the crimes committed, the offender and the interests of society.
"The society is outraged. The purpose of sentence is a deterrence for other members of the community, to deter individuals from committing offences, to protect society from harm and to serve society's desire for retribution.
"The court must question the issue of remorse. Remorse is a growing conscience on the part of another. No action of remorse was taken by the accused prior and during the trial. In my view it is not genuine remorse. He is simply sorry for himself after being faced with sentence.
"Rape is an intrusion of the most private rights of a human being, in particular a girl and a woman.
"It is a violation of one's rights to dignity which is enshrined in the constitution," he said, adding that "society wants people [criminals] to be dealt with sternly and decisively".
He said Monyake preyed on vulnerable girls, luring them with a promise of buying them chips and thereafter raping them.
Strydom added that rape was a type of inhumane treatment that could not be tolerated.
Monyake was denied leave to appeal and his name will be included in the sexual offences register.
Victims' parents left with big burden
Parents of the young victims who were kidnapped and raped by Monyake are left with a huge burden.
Some complained that the young girls are now HIV-positive.
"I am raising a young girl who [now] can't cope at school. Her behaviour has changed a lot and she has anger and is aggressive towards other children," one mother said.
An angry father said: Monyake raped his daughter aged 10 in 2014 in Boipatong.
"He betrayed our trust. We trusted him and allowed him to spend the night at our home.
"My daughter was badly injured and she is trying to cope, although it is hard," he said. "She is still attending trauma counselling and I pray that she be healed emotionally."
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