File
An 18-year-old Eastern Cape man has been sentenced to an effective 25 years in jail for the rape and murder of a two-year-old child on a farm near Kwanojoli, formerly Somerset East.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Frans Hendricks was sentenced recently to 25 years for murder and 22 years for rape, with the court ordering that the sentences run concurrently.
The gruesome incident occurred on 19 November 2023, when Hendricks was just 17 years old.
The court heard in his plea explanation that the toddler and her twin sisters were visiting their grandparents at Uitkomst farm and that Hendricks, who worked on an adjacent farm, had gone there to socialise.
NPA spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said after leaving the gathering, Hendricks encountered the toddler, and he took her to nearby bushes where he raped her.
According to his plea explanation, he struck the child with a "tree block", killing her.
Her body was found the following day by her grandfather after a search, and Hendricks was arrested on the same day.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence.
"This sentence reflects the gravity of Hendricks' crimes and ensures justice for the victim and her family. It also serves as a deterrent to would-be offenders, demonstrating our commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society,” he added.
The NPA said it would continue to prioritise cases involving child abuse and violence, ensuring that offenders face the full might of the law.
