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South African Man Sentenced to Two Life Terms for Rape and Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl
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Nkosana entered into a plea agreement in which he admitted to the offences and accepted responsibility for the killing.
During the proceedings, Nkosana admitted that he knew Veronique and had seen her playing with other children.
According to the plea agreement, he offered to give her money if she accompanied him to a room belonging to one of his relatives.
He then admitted to undressing Veronique and s#xually assaulting her without her consent.
According to his admission, he later became overwhelmed by fear and shock and strangled Veronique until she became unresponsive and died.
He acknowledged that he knew strangling her could result in death but continued with the act.
Evidence presented during the case included DNA recovered from Veronique during her medical examination and from her clothing. Investigators also recovered fingerprints linking Nkosana to the scene.
The plea agreement recorded that Nkosana had no previous convictions. He was unmarried and had a four-year-old daughter who lives with her mother.
He had completed Grade 10 and earned money through odd jobs while contributing towards his daughter’s maintenance. He also sold raw meat for a neighbour.
Although the court was told that Nkosana acknowledged the seriousness of his actions and expressed remorse, the circumstances of the crime were considered too serious for his personal circumstances to outweigh the interests of society.
Nkosana accepted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances that would justify reducing the prescribed minimum sentences.
The State and his legal representative, Mxolisi Moolman, agreed to a sentence of three years for housebreaking with intent to rape and murder, alongside life imprisonment for rape and life imprisonment for murder.
The agreement also stated that after entering into the plea agreement under Section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act, Nkosana could not appeal the conviction or sentence imposed under the agreement.
Speaking to journalists, investigating officer Warrant Officer Mbulelo Grootboom, attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and S#xual Offences (FCS) unit, said he was satisfied with the conviction following the investigation conducted by his team.
Grootboom said the State had strong evidence that could have resulted in a conviction even if Nkosana had not pleaded guilty.
He particularly credited the forensic team for helping investigators build the case.
“If any case is conducted correctly by those involved, it becomes easier to get a conviction,” he said.
“When I arrested him, Nkosana was wearing the same clothes he wore when he killed the victim. We managed to swab the clothes and lift the DNA of the victim.”
Grootboom revealed that he kept a photograph of Veronique on his desk as a reminder of the responsibility he had to pursue justice for her family.
“I do this to remind myself of the brutally m8rdered child’s family who deserves justice. I would follow up on all outstanding information related to the case to say that I have at least done something today. It is not easy to see the photo daily, as it reminds me of the crime scene I witnessed, but it keeps me motivated,” he said.
He also welcomed the decision to have Nkosana’s name included in the National Sex Offenders’ Register.
“To me, this conviction sends a serious message out there to the perpetrators of such gruesome acts,” he said.
Veronique’s mother, Destiny, said that although she had wanted to see justice served, the conviction could not erase the pain caused by the loss of her daughter.
Speaking to the Express, she described the sentencing as an important moment for the family and said she hoped it would serve as a reminder that those responsible for such crimes can be held accountable.
“As a woman in this month, I feel brave that I have made it out of this case, stronger than I was before. I am glad the sentencing happened this month, as a statement to remind those who would do something like this that justice will prevail,” she said.
