Cape Town - Convicted Robertson rapists, Edmund Plaatjies and Elvin Jantjies, have been sentenced to three life terms each after they were found guilty of repeatedly raping a woman who was known to them in the community.
State prosecutor, Elton Willemse, told the court the two found the 19-year-old woman standing outside while attending a social gathering in Silverstrand, Robertson in 2017.
She was standing with friends and her child when they dragged her to the vineyards where they took turns raping her.
They restrained her by slapping and hitting her, and she was left with multiple abrasions on her face, arms, and hands, lacerations on her lower lip and bruises.
The victim impact report compiled by Estelle Adams showed that she was left shocked as she knew both men, and did not expect them to rape her.
“Plaatjies’ past transgression did not serve as an effective deterrent as he committed these offences only 10 months after his parole on September 19, 2016.
“He committed two previous offences of attempted rape about four years apart and it could therefore be held that he has a propensity to commit sexual offences,” Willemse argued.
“He suggested to Jantjies that they kill the victim and threatened to kill her and her child if she told anyone about what happened to her. The community needs to be protected from his violent tendencies and the only way is through a custodial sentence.
“Jantjies is equally responsible for the pain and suffering the victim had to endure, as he was actively involved in grabbing her, dragging her into the vineyards, assaulting her, restraining, and raping her.
Jantjies was in a relationship with the victim’s stepmother and had a moral obligation to protect her from harm. He acted in total disregard for her well-being, and due to the severity of the offence, he too needs to be removed from society, by imposing a custodial sentence,” he argued.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said Jantjies, 27, was a member of the Junior Cisko Yankies gang and became a member of the 26 gang after his incarceration.
It was ordered that Willemse inform the victim of her rights to make representations to the Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, when the accused are considered for parole or correctional supervision.
The court further ordered an immediate search and seizure of all firearms, ammunition, competency certificates, licenses, permits, and authorisations issued to the accused.
Commenting following the sentence, Willemse said: “The message will hopefully reverberate throughout the Bree Langeberg region, and even beyond that gender-based violence is a priority for the justice cluster.
Dire consequences await those who rape and assault our mothers and daughters in our communities. We remain committed to fully prosecute culprits of these vulgar and senseless acts of violence to the full extent of the law and empower people who report these crimes.”
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell, commended the prosecution and investigation teams.
“I agree with the sentiments shared by the prosecutor, and I want to add that we will continue to vigorously prosecute the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide as it encroaches on the right to dignity,” she said.
Cape Times