Man convicted of raping mentally disabled woman

Seven years after a mentally disabled woman was raped by a close family friend, the family has finally received justice.

On Wednesday, Justice Queen Khuzwayo imposed a double life sentence on Jeremy Allen Meintjies, to be served concurrently, after he was found guilty of two counts of rape.

He was fully aware of the mental state of the then 43-year-old woman. He had raped the victim twice, but was caught red-handed the second time.

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On 5 August 2017, Meintjies forced his way into the house in Newlands East, knowing that the victim was home alone.

Once inside the house, he forced the victim into her mother’s bedroom and raped her. While he was raping the victim, the victim’s brother entered, whereupon Meintjies fled the scene.

Prosecutor Cheryl Pillay disputed the defence’s allegations, arguing that Meintjies’ actions outweighed his personal issues.

The court also heard that Meintjies worked as a semi-skilled boilermaker while supporting his unemployed wife and five-year-old child alone, without being entitled to child support.

The 46-year-old defendant appeared to be lost in thought during most of the trial and showed little reaction to the outcome of his verdict.

In addition to the life sentence, Meintjies, who has no previous convictions, will be placed on the sex offenders’ register and deemed unsuitable for working with children and possessing a firearm.

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TThe victim’s sister was delighted with the news after waiting years for the legislation to be passed.

“The conviction of the perpetrator brings to an end a long and arduous journey for my sister, who demonstrated tremendous courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma. We are grateful to the legal system and the tireless efforts of the investigators, prosecutors and lawyers who supported us throughout the process. This outcome is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of believing and supporting survivors of sexual violence. We hope that our story inspires others to seek justice and that no one ever has to go through what our family went through alone,” the sister said.