South Africa: Child Rapist, Murderer Handed Double Life Sentence

The Gqeberha High court in Cape Town, South Africa has handed child rapist and killer, Ricardo Grysman a life sentence after he was found guilty and sentenced for murder and rape in 2019.

Grysman, 26, was found guilty and sentenced to life in jail for murdering and raping Chantelle Makwena, who was only five years old at the time.

In August 2019, he raped the youngster at their house in Withoogte, Rocklands. In 2018, he also raped a 49-year-old lady.

Colonel Priscilla Naidu, a police spokesperson, stated that on August 2, 2019, at around 7 p.m., Veronica Makwena, 23, and her sister 34, left their children at their home in Withoogte in Rocklands with the accused, his girlfriend, and the girlfriend's brother, and went to visit a friend in the same vicinity.

“When the two women returned at 10 pm, the same night, they found the front door opened and neither of the adults were there. 

"Chantelle Makwena was not in her bed and Veronica Makwena went to the neighbour’s house to see if she was there.”

According to Naidu, on August 3, 2019, an intensive search for the missing girl began, and at around 2 p.m., the father, Justin Manele 29, discovered Chantelle's heavily battered and bruised body in a toilet near the residence in Withoogte.

She was partly naked and had suffered severe head and facial injuries.

In July 2021, after receiving positive DNA tying the accused to the murder and rape, he was apprehended at the Blozo location in Rocklands, and Grysman stayed in detention for the entirety of the trial, according to Naidu.

The accused was sentenced on Friday for the rape and murder of Chantelle Makwena, as well as the rape he committed in 2018.

The sentences are as follows: 10 years in jail for adult female rape, life in prison for child rape, and life in prison for murder.

Meanwhile, lieutenant general Nomthetheleli Mene praised the SAPS Kabega Park investigative officer, Detective Sergeant Chantell Joubert, and the prosecuting authority for ensuring that the accused did not spend another day outside prison walls.

“Sexual violence against our women and children is totally intolerable and this vulnerable group are being murdered by those they love, know and trust.

“This child’s life and future had ended in such a brutal way and justice has been served on the unremorseful accused.

“Crimes against children and women are cowardice and sentences such as this meted out by our criminal justice system bring hope to other victims of domestic violence and rape,” Mene said.