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A former Lusikisiki subject advisor, Louis Pepping, convicted of raping a six-year-old girl, is due to appear again before the Mthatha High court on Tuesday, January 31, for his sentencing.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, Peeping's attorney was not present in court when he was convicted.
“The case was postponed until January 31, when Pepping's attorney will be present to tell the court when he will be available so that the sentencing can continue. When the matter returns to court for argument on sentence, the state will request the court to sentence him to life imprisonment as prescribed by the law,” said Tyali.
Tyali said that while delivering judgment, Acting Judge Mvuzo Notyesi found that the state had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court described all the witnesses led by Senior State Advocate, Mbulelo Nyendwana as credible and accepted the forensic evidence corroborating the state witnesses.
“Evidence presented is that on September 1, 2019, the victim was sent to buy chips at a spaza shop near her home in Ngobozana locality in Lusikisiki. When she did not return as expected, her siblings were asked to go to look for her as it was getting dark. After a while, the victim’s grandmother joined the search and found the victim with one of her siblings."
Tyali added that the victim led her grandmother, together with some community members, to the house belonging to Pepping and identified him as the man who had grabbed her to his room.
“Community members assaulted Pepping until he was rescued by a local traditional leader who summoned the police. The victim was taken to the St Elizabeth Hospital Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she was examined before being transferred to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital due to the severity of her injuries.”
Tyali further added that a sheet with blood stains and DNA was retrieved from Pepping’s room. He was immediately arrested.
“The court rejected his defense that some other person must have brought the victim into his unlocked room and raped her as farfetched and inherently improbable."
Department of Education spokesperson, Mali Mtima confirmed that the department fired Pepping following the incident.
