Civil servant rapes minor
‘Makeresemese Letuka
Maseru – A 25-year-old man, Thabiso Makhetha, from Hillside in Thaba Tseka appeared before the Magistrate’s court on 4th February accused of raping a 14-year-old girl last year.
Makhetha, who works for the Home Affairs department at Thaba Tseka reportedly picked the girl from the streets and asked her to accompany her to a soccer match. Immediately after the match the two went to a popular local popular bar in town where they had sex in the car.
The girl only reported the incident on 1st August 2019 when she found out that she was pregnant.
Makhetha was released on M500 bail and is set to re-appear in court on 19th February 2020.
Police said although the girl could have consented to having sex, at law she is still considered a minor so the act amounts to statutory rape.
Police appeal to Basotho to report such cases and ask men never to engage in any sexually activities with girls below the age of 18.
Statistics show as of the 23rd August 2019 authorities had received 527 rape cases, of which 325 involved children.
