A pastor was recently sentenced to 10 years by a Pinetown Magistrate for the rape of his blind neighbour. Photo: arizonaguardian and jacquemart / Flickr
Pastor sentenced to 10 years for RAPE of blind neigbour
A pastor was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for the rape of his blind neighbour who is also the widow of his late friend.
A pastor was recently sentenced to 10 years by a Pinetown Magistrate for the rape of his blind neighbour. Photo: arizonaguardian and jacquemart / Flickr
Petros M Mokoena was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for raping his blind neighbour, the widow of his late friend.
Pinetown Magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe said Mokeona was lucky to be sentenced after the Criminal Procedures Act of 1997 had been amended. Before the amendments, the Act prescribed a life sentence for the rape of someone with a disability.
Mokoena, a pastor, often supported the family of his victim by bringing them food after his friend passed away. Hlophe stated that Mokoena not only took advantage of the family’s financial situation but also the fact that he was a respected pastor in the area.
The rape incident occurred in January 2021
In January 2021, one of the victims’ sons found Mokoena topless on his mother’s bed. Mokoena allegedly offered R1 000 to the victims’ sons before fleeing. He left behind a backpack, sandals and a golf shirt.
It was revealed that the victim’s son walked into the house and heard ‘struggling noises’. After entering his mother’s room, he found Mokoena raping her. While fleeing, Mokoena was met by a community member who inquired about what happened.
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Mokoena told the community member that the victim’s children mugged him and took his clothes. Hlophe noted that Mokoena went to the police and opened a case against the victims’ sons and they were detained on a false charge.
The court case
In court, Mokoena maintained that he did not rape the victim stating that he had consensual sex with her. He said her sons walked in on them and assaulted him, reports IOL.
On Wednesday, a victim impact statement was read in court. The complainant denied that it was consensual stating she was emotionally and psychologically affected by the rape.
“The offence that the accused is convicted of is serious, rape cases seriously infringe on victims’ integrity, dignity and privacy. The complainant has a disability rendering her vulnerable… Violence against women is a serious problem, rape is rife and it is bad. It’s one of the wrongs inflicted on the vulnerable,” said Magistrate Hlophe.
