Expected to hand down the sentence last week, after his conviction and mitigation, Senior Magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi advanced Kabelo’s conviction for rape to the High Court. Ramakoloi cited jurisdictional issues preventing her from handing down the sentence. The presiding magistrate stated that, depending on the jurisdiction, he could only sentence Kabelo to a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years.

“We are bound by the jurisdiction to give the appropriate sentence to Kabelo, convicted of rape, because the years he should be sentenced to is more than 20 years in prison and can only be a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years,” he said. she said. Ramakoloi stated that Kabelo must pay the heavy price for the heinous crime he committed because he not only committed the crime of rape but also violated his child whom he was supposed to feed and protect. “If you’re an offender and you’re a parent or guardian, your minimum sentence is 30 years. This is a huge crime where a child was raped by her father, therefore it is not business as usual and justice would not be done unless we do the right thing,” she said. She further emphasized that Kabelo should not go lightly with the sentence.

She pointed out that Parliament showed a rape appeal, especially against children, as well as the public judging by the outrage. Ramakoloi explained that this is what encourages her to take the matter to the High Court for conviction. “The victim was obviously a child and probably a virgin and the rape of a teenager is not as horrific as the rape of a young child so you can imagine the pain she went through,” she said. Commenting on the mitigation provided by the convict, Ramakoloi indicated that she was not moved by the statements made by the offender, pleaded guilty, showed remorse, did not engage in violence and was open to rehabilitation “I am not convinced that these mitigating factors can remove the severity of the punishment that awaits convict Kabelo,” Ramakoloi said.

The date and time Kabelo will be sentenced before the High Court has not yet been set, as has the identification of the judge to handle the matter.