‘No means no’ - Driver jailed for raping girlfriend after she refused sex

A man will spend eight years behind bars after being convicted of raping his girlfriend in Tlhabane in 2023, despite her telling him she was too tired to be intimate.

A 31-year-old scholar transport driver has been jailed for eight years after raping his girlfriend despite her telling him she was too tired to have sex.

The accused was sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment by the Bafokeng Regional Court in Tlhabane.

The court heard that the man was with his girlfriend in his room in Tlhabane on November 11, 2023, when he asked her to be intimate with him.

Despite her refusal, he went ahead and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent .

SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Ofentse Mokgadi said the victim reported the matter to police, which led to the man's arrest.

Mokgadi said the accused was subsequently released on bail and remained on bail until his sentencing.

The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm and prohibited him from working with children.

During the trial, the State emphasised the principle that “no means no” and that sexual intercourse without consent constitutes rape .

The court noted that the man had pleaded not guilty and had shown no remorse.

The Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Mamotsamai Ntoagae, and her management team welcomed the sentence and commended Detective Warrant Officer Christopher Maimela and prosecutor Advocate Zola Mpayipheli for their efforts in ensuring justice was served.

Ntoagae reiterated that consent is fundamental in any sexual relationship and that a refusal must be respected.

“No means no. Every person has the right to decide whether or not to engage in sexual activity, regardless of their relationship with the other person. The SAPS will continue to ensure that perpetrators of sexual offences are brought before the courts,” said Brigadier Ntoagae.