Minor guilty of raping doctor

Published Dec 7, 2010

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The High Court in Bloemfontein on Tuesday found a Lesotho minor guilty of raping and robbing a Free State doctor at the Pelonomi hospital.

This follows after the 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the rape and aggravated robbery charges.

The boy's legal counsel Peter van der Merwe read a statement into the court record admitting to the charges the boy faced.

The 35-year-old doctor was on night shift duty at the Pelonomi Hospital when she was overpowered in a ward on October 30.

She was forced into a room and hit her over the head with a brick.

The boy would be sentenced on 22 March 2011 after the court had time to study a State report and that of a social worker.

He will remain in custody at a youth centre in Kroonstad until his next appearance.

Earlier, the National Prosecuting Authority in the Free State withdrew charges against two other men also held in connection with the incident. No evidence could be found against them.

The incident led to wide spread reaction to unsafe working condition for health personnel at public hospitals.

The SA Medical Association called on the minister of health and provincial health MECs to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of all personnel 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 in a statement at the time.

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