Youth jailed for doctor rape
2011-03-25 14:54
Bloemfontein - A 17-year-old Lesotho youth was sentenced in the Free State
High Court on Friday to 15 years imprisonment for raping a Free State doctor.
Free State Judge President HM Musi sentenced him to serve time at a youth
centre where he could be rehabilitated and punished.
Delivering judgment, Judge Musi said rape was a serious crime which was not
only prevalent in the Bloemfontein court jurisdiction but also in the rest of
the country.
The judge said South African society could not think a doctor could be raped
and it was frightening that such a crime could happen at Pelonomi hospital,
adding that Pelonomi means kind-hearted.
"This tells of a sad state of morality in this country," he said.
The youth had pleaded guilty to the rape and aggravated robbery charges.
Night shift
The doctor was on night shift duty at the hospital when she was overpowered
in a ward on October 30, 2010. She was forced into a room, hit over the head
with a brick and raped.
The attack led to widespread condemnation of unsafe working conditions for
staff at public hospitals.
The SA Medical Association called on the health minister and provincial
health MECs to ensure the safety and security of all those working in the
public health sector.
"Much about security is said each time such an incident occurs. However
it appears that often little is forthcoming in terms of real efforts to address
security issues," Sama said last year.
- SAPA
