The Ficksburg Regional Court has sentenced a man to two life terms of imprisonment for the rape of two young children.
The accused, Kamal Ebrahim, was convicted on two counts of rape. The victims were aged seven and eight years old at the time of the incident on 26 January 2020.
“The accused initially pleaded guilty to both counts on 16 October 2024, but his plea was changed to not guilty after he claimed in his explanation that he was under the influence of drugs,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Wednesday in a statement.
Ebrahim later failed to give proper instructions to his attorney and was referred for a 30-day psychiatric observation to determine his fitness to stand trial. He was found fit to stand trial.
“He was subsequently found guilty on both counts of rape and on 9 October 2026, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment on each count,” the police said.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, welcomed the sentence and commended the investigating Officer, Sergeant Kobeli of Ficksburg SAPS, for the thorough investigation that ensured justice for the victims. – SAnews.gov.za
