Tebogo Hendrick Maphanga, a 50-year-old man from Limpopo, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of an offense involving a 14-year-old girl. The judgment was delivered by the Burgersfort Regional Court on Tuesday, concluding a case that began on July 22, 2022.
On that day, the victim was at her home in Praktiseer, Segorong Section, when Maphanga visited her residence, requesting to buy cigarettes. After she opened the door to assist him, he followed her inside, resulting in a situation that led to criminal charges. The young girl was able to seek help from a neighbor and informed her parents, who immediately reported the incident to the authorities.
The case was assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Investigations (FCS) unit, where Sergeant Jacob Letsatsi Mojalefa conducted a thorough investigation. Following the investigation, Maphanga was arrested and charged, with his application for bail being denied. He remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings.
After being convicted, Maphanga was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Additionally, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his name was added to the national sexual offenders’ registry.
Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the professionalism of the investigative team. She emphasized the importance of ensuring justice in cases involving vulnerable individuals and reiterated the commitment of law enforcement to safeguard the well-being of all members of the community.
