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The sentence meted on a Mahikeng youngster for the rape and brutal murder of a 59 year old woman should serve to remind perpetrators of violence and sexual offences against women that the days for the rampant scourge are numbered, North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise said on Thursday.

“We are encouraged that the sentence handed out on the first day of women’s month will serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators and give hope to women and victims of crime that criminal justice system will not fail them,” said Premier Modise in welcoming the 32 years and 18 months sentence that the North West High Court pronounced on 19-year-old Phillip Mooki.

The youngster had earlier on the day of Gloria Bereng’s murder been at her home in Motlhabeng village with the deceased’s son who happened to be his friend at the time but returned alone after leaving him at a nearby tavern to rape and strangle his friend’s mother.

In expressing hope that the Bereng family will find closure now that justice has been served, the Premier reiterated the call she made recently for the partnership between police, crime prevention structures, churches, faith-based organisations, women organisations, non-government organisations and other civil society organisations to be strengthened to combat the scourge of sexual offences against women and girl children.

Modise said the spate of rape incidents that was experienced in recent months in the province, particularly those involving victims known to perpetrators, pointed to moral decay that needed united action .