SCHOLAR TRANSPORT DRIVER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPING LEARNER

By DSD News

• Moletsane was formally charged with rape and entered a plea of not guilty. The court mandated that the accused be registered in the National Register for Sexual Offences.⁠
• The child had attempted suicide several times and once collapsed at school.
• The NPA remains unwavering in its dedication to supporting survivors of sexual violence and advocating for a society in which every child is safe, protected, and heard.

The Protea Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a scholar transport driver, Retshidisitsoe Moletsane (39), to life imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old learner.
Moletsane was charged with rape and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court ordered that the accused be registered in the National Register for Sexual Offences. He was also declared unsuitable to work with children. The incidents occurred in November 2020. On the day of the incident, the victim had finished writing her exam earlier and went to wait in the taxi for the other children to finish. The driver followed her and undressed her, undressed himself and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her. He threatened that if she didn’t corporate, he would call other drivers to come and also rape her.
During the same month, the accused collected the victim from school but, instead of taking her home as expected, he diverted to his friend’s residence. Upon entering the taxi, he forced himself onto the victim. The victim thereafter requested to use the bathroom, the accused followed her to the bathroom and raped her again. Several months later, the victim’s mother began to notice significant changes in her daughter’s behaviour. The child had made multiple suicide attempts and, at one point, even collapsed at school. It was only after these distressing events that the victim found the courage to confide in her mother and disclose the traumatic incident.”
Regional Court Prosecutor Mmakgadi Mangena argued that the accused showed no remorse for his actions. She emphasized the severe breach of trust, noting that the victim’s mother had relied on the accused to safely transport her child to and from school—a responsibility he callously exploited. Mangena further contended that the gravity of the offence, coupled with the abuse of a position of trust, warranted nothing less than a sentence of life imprisonment.
The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting survivors of sexual violence and championing a society where every child is safe, protected, and heard. We trust that this sentence offers a measure of justice and serves as an important step on the path to healing for the victim and her family. We commend Regional Court Prosecutor Ms. Mmakgadi Mangena and Investigating Officer Sergeant Kunene for their unwavering dedication and pivotal role in safeguarding the rights and dignity of our most vulnerable citizens.