Viable News Team 
The quiet rural community of Zaaiplaas, just outside Groblersdal in Limpopo, has been left shaken and outraged by a crime so brutal that even hardened investigators struggled to put words to it. In July last year, a 101-year-old grandmother was raped and assaulted in her own home by a man young enough to be her great-grandchild.
Now, as pre-sentencing proceedings against 27-year-old convict Sifiso Mahlangu get underway in the Groblersdal Regional Court, the victim’s family says their only hope is that justice will finally be served.
A Crime That Stunned the Nation
The details of the case are harrowing. According to court evidence, Mahlangu broke into the centenarian’s modest home under the cover of night. The elderly woman, who had been asleep, was violently attacked and raped. She was 101 years old at the time frail, vulnerable, and unable to defend herself.
For her family, the scars left behind are deeper than anyone could have imagined. One relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the pain the family continues to endure:
“Our grandmother is no longer in a good mental state. Even when you talk to her, her response no longer makes sense. It is painful to us as family, but we hope that the law will take its course and our grandmother gets justice.”
The elderly woman’s declining health, compounded by the trauma of the attack, has left the family feeling as though they are slowly losing her not to age, but to violence.
Proceedings Behind Closed Doors
In recognition of the sensitivity of the case, pre-sentencing arguments are being heard in camera, away from the public and the press. This is often done in cases involving sexual violence, particularly when the victim is highly vulnerable.
While Mahlangu has already been convicted, the court must now weigh aggravating and mitigating factors before delivering a sentence. For the family, the wait is agonizing, but they are resolute in their demand for a punishment that reflects the severity of the crime.
The Community’s Outrage
News of the attack spread rapidly across Limpopo and the country at large, sparking anger and disbelief. Community leaders and women’s rights groups have repeatedly condemned the assault, calling it not only a heinous act of violence but also a chilling reflection of South Africa’s ongoing struggle with gender-based violence.
The case has also reignited debate about whether South Africa’s justice system is doing enough to deter sexual predators. Harsh minimum sentencing laws exist for rape, but activists argue that convictions and sentencing alone cannot solve what they describe as a deep-rooted societal crisis.
A Symbol of the Struggle Against Gender-Based Violence
For many, the assault on the 101-year-old grandmother has become symbolic of the vulnerability of women in South Africa regardless of age, status, or circumstance. Statistics paint a grim picture: South Africa continues to record among the highest rates of sexual violence in the world.
Activists insist that unless communities, law enforcement, and policymakers unite in both prevention and protection, more vulnerable women will continue to fall prey to such crimes.
Waiting for Justice
As the sentencing proceedings continue, the victim’s family is clinging to the hope that Mahlangu will receive the maximum penalty allowed under law. To them, it is not only about punishment but about restoring a measure of dignity to their grandmother, whose twilight years were shattered by unimaginable violence.
The relative who spoke to reporters put it simply:
“She was meant to live the last years of her life in peace, surrounded by family. Instead, she was violated. We want justice, not just for her, but for every woman who has suffered.”
The Groblersdal Regional Court is expected to hand down its decision soon. For the family, and for the nation, the sentencing will be more than a legal outcome it will be a test of whether South Africa is truly willing to stand up for its most vulnerable citizens.
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