653 Years Imprisonment for 119 Counts of Sexual Offences Against Children

BLOEMFONTEIN – A 37-year-old man was sentenced in the Welkom Regional Court, sitting as a designated Sexual Offences Court, on 2 November 2026 after pleading guilty to 119 charges relating to sexual offences committed against three minor victims between 2015 and 2024. The accused was convicted and sentenced by Magistrate Mrs Lafenya on Odendaalsrus case and two other cases from Welkom.

The accused pleaded guilty to charges including sexual grooming of children, sexual assault, rape of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, compelled self-sexual assault, exposure of a child to pornography, creation, possession and distribution of child pornography, child abuse, trafficking in persons, kidnapping of a minor, attempted murder, and defeating the administration of justice.

The investigation, led by Warrant Officer Jessica Saayman of Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, revealed that the accused gained access to his victims through positions of trust.

He groomed the first victim between 2015 and 2020 when she was between 12 and 17 years old and groomed a second victim between 2022 and 2024 when she was between 11 and 14 years old. He sexually assaulted and raped the victims on a regular basis, sexually exploited them, and used them to create child pornography which he sold and distributed to a pornographic website.

When the offences were discovered, the accused trafficked and kidnapped the second child, attempted to kill the child and himself, and damaged devices and destroyed evidence in an attempt to defeat the administration of justice. He further manipulated the second victim to create child pornography involving a third minor victim without the third child’s knowledge.

The accused was sentenced as follows, amongst others:

• Count 3, 14, and 17: Life imprisonment each for rape of a minor and trafficking in persons
• Sexual grooming, sexual assault, exposure to pornography, creation and possession of child pornography: 5 years imprisonment per count
• Sexual exploitation and distribution of child pornography: 10 years imprisonment per count
• Attempted murder: 15 years imprisonment
• Defeating the administration of justice: 3 years imprisonment
• Kidnapping: 5 years imprisonment

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the sentences of life imprisonment, amounting to a total of 653 years imprisonment in addition to three terms of life imprisonment.

The court further ordered that the accused’s particulars be entered in the National Register for Sex Offenders, that he is prohibited from working with children, that he is declared unfit to possess a firearm, and that he is prohibited from possessing or using any electronic device whilst serving his sentence.

During sentencing, the State, represented by Prosecutor Elma van Niekerk, argued that life imprisonment should be imposed as the accused’s behaviour was not a once-off mistake but a pattern of behaviour towards children over a long period of time. The State argued that the accused was manipulative and abused trust relationships and that no substantial and compelling circumstances existed to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.

The State utilised four victim impact statements compiled by Court Preparation Officer Rosie Dube, setting out the immense trauma suffered by each victim and their families. The court expressed its shock and repulsion at the actions of the accused and his abuse of the victims’ trust and sentenced him to the full might of the law.

This investigation confirmed that perpetrators of sexual offences against children often do not use force initially; they use grooming, trust, gifts, attention, and secrecy. They position themselves as trusted family friends, partners, or caregivers, isolate the child, and gradually normalise abuse. They also use technology to record, store, and distribute abuse material and to destroy evidence when exposed.

Early reporting, preservation of electronic devices, and cooperation between investigators, prosecutors, Court Preparation Officers and social workers proved critical in securing a conviction on all counts without the victims having to testify in a prolonged trial.

Crimes of this nature destroy childhoods, families, and communities. The victims in this matter were left suicidal and severely traumatised, with long-term emotional, psychological, and social consequences. The distribution of child pornography means victims are re-victimised every time the material is viewed or shared, as the whereabouts of all intimate photos and videos remain unknown.

Such crimes also erode trust within families and communities and place a heavy burden on the criminal justice, health, and social welfare systems.

The South African Police Service urges parents, guardians, educators, and community members to:

• Talk openly to children about body safety, boundaries, and the right to say no;
• Be alert to grooming signs: an adult who gives excessive attention, gifts, secrets, or wants to spend unsupervised time with a child;
• Monitor children’s use of cellphones, social media, and messaging apps, and know who they are communicating with;
• Believe children when they disclose abuse and report immediately – do not confront the suspect or delete messages, photos, or devices;
• Report any suspected sexual offence against a child to the nearest police station, the FCS Unit, or call the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or Childline on 116.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Thabang Solomon Lesia, welcomed the sentence and commended Warrant Officer Jessica Saayman, Prosecutor Elma Van Niekerk, CPO Rosie Dube and all role players for ensuring that justice was served and that a dangerous predator is removed from society.

Ends