A 25-year-old South African man who was found guilty of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend has been sentenced to 70 years imprisonment.

Keatlhotse Mothowakae was convicted for r*ping his ex-girlfriend in 2015 and 2016. He was sentenced in the Mothibistad Regional Court in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

On the day of the r*pe incident the victim was walking from church to home, when she was accosted by Mothowakae.

During the court proceedings it emerged that Keatlhotse Mothowakae was sitting under the tree from where he grabbed his ex-girlfriend as she was passing by. He dragged her to his residence, threatening to kill her with a pair of scissors and raped her.

The victim managed to break-loose in the morning and alerted the police about the gruesome ordeal she endured at Keatlhotse’s residence. During the rape Keatlhotse took the victim’s cellphone, which he refused to hand back.

The Northern Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Phiwe Mnguni welcomed the 70 years jail term handed down to the rapist.

Major Mnguni commended the investigating officers, Captain Caren Nel and Sergeant Kenalemang Babeile, for good investigative work.

He also applauded the National Prosecuting Authority and Department of Justice for removing the rapist for life from the society.

Keatlhotse was sentenced as follows;

Count 1: Rape 20 years imprisonment

Count 2: Rape 20 years imprisonment

Count 3: Rape 20 years imprisonment

Count 4: Rape 10 years imprisonment

The Mothibistad Regional Court had ordered that the sentences should run con- currently. The convict’s name will be registered in the National Register for Sex Offenders.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.