Diketso Simon Koeti has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Bethulie. The sentencing was handed down on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, by Magistrate Sepato in a case prosecuted by Leon Ehlers.
The court heard that in the early hours of Tuesday, 2 April 2024, the victim was awakened by her cousin to prepare food. While making a fire outside, Koeti, who had arrived with the cousin, declared he wanted someone to sleep with. He then forcibly took the teenager to his residence and raped her.
Following the assault, the victim reported the crime to her cousin, leading to a case docket being opened at the police station. The investigation was led by Sergeant Ntsepe of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit in Trompsburg.
Koeti was denied bail and remained in custody throughout the trial until his sentencing. In addition to the life term, Magistrate Sepato ordered that Koeti’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.