"Our child can now live in peace without thinking that her rapist will be released from prison and harm her" - Family

A 23-YEAR-OLD man from GaMogashoa village in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old girl.

Passing sentence Judge Roelof Smith described Freedom Mohlobotho Moela, 23, as a "heartless criminal who had to be removed from society".

Moela raped the girl in GaMogashoa on November 8 2010.

The victim was allegedly on her way home from a party when she met the suspect.

She was forced into the rapist's home, where she was repeatedly raped at knife point.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohale Ramatseba said: "We are satisfied that justice has finally prevailed."

"Our child can now live in peace without thinking that her rapist will be released from prison and harm her," a relative of the victim said.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Simon Mpembe also welcomed the sentence, saying it would serve as a deterrent to would be rapists.