THE Johannesburg High Court has handed down a life sentence to a 27-year-old man who raped a 9-year-old girl in October last year. Phillip Sikhosana was convicted of raping the girl at a Muldersdrift smallholding on the West Rand, The Star reports. Acting Judge Puke Maserumule on Thursday said courts need to protect children. He said the courts are obliged to send a clear message to rapists that the equality, dignity and freedom of women will be protected and that no mercy will be shown to those who invade those rights.
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