The Soweto community and broader South African society breathed a collective sigh of relief on Monday, 1 September, when the Johannesburg High Court sitting in Soweto sentenced Phethe Simiao 25, to two life terms in prison for the rape and brutal murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane.
The judgment, delivered by Judge Maria van der Westhuizen, was met with tears, anger, and relief in the courtroom. Judge van der Westhuizen condemned Simiao’s actions as “monstrous” and “utterly devoid of humanity,” stressing that the justice system had a duty to send a clear message against crimes targeting children.
“This court cannot and will not turn a blind eye to the cruelty inflicted on this innocent child,” Judge van der Westhuizen said during sentencing. “The brutality of your actions, Mr. Simiao, reflects not only a disregard for the law but a deep assault on the values of our society. You showed no remorse, no humanity, and no conscience. For that, you must spend the rest of your life behind bars.”
The family of little Amantle, visibly distraught, expressed mixed emotions after the sentencing. “We are relieved that justice has been served, but nothing will ever bring back our daughter,” said a family spokesperson outside court.
Political and civil society reactions
The case has sparked nationwide outrage, with political parties and civil society organizations welcoming the sentence as a critical step in the fight against gender-based violence and crimes against children.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM), which released a statement after the ruling, commended the court’s decision. “This judgment represents not only a critical step towards justice for Amantle’s family but also sends a powerful message to society regarding the urgent need to combat the epidemic of violence against women and children in our communities,” said Zama Ntshona, ATM’s national spokesperson.
The African National Congress (ANC) echoed these sentiments, with Gauteng spokesperson Bones Modise urging stronger prevention mechanisms. “This heartbreaking case reminds us that we must strengthen child protection systems and improve community policing to prevent such crimes from occurring in the first place.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the case underscored systemic failures in protecting children. “The statistics are horrifying. More than 18,000 cases of child rape were reported in the last year, yet fewer than 500 were enrolled for trial. This points to a criminal justice system that is failing our children,” said DA MP Nazley Sharif, shadow minister for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Civil society organizations also welcomed the ruling. The Teddy Bear Foundation, which supports child victims of abuse, said the sentence should be a turning point. “While we welcome this harsh sentence, justice must not end in the courtroom. We need a coordinated national response that tackles the root causes of violence against children,” said Dr. Shaheda Omar, the foundation’s director.
Statistics paint a grim picture
The sentencing comes against the backdrop of alarming statistics on violence against children. Over the past six financial years, more than 106,000 rape cases and 22,722 sexual assault cases involving children have been reported. In the 2022/2023 period alone, rape accounted for 38.3% of all crimes against children nationwide.
Despite these numbers, arrests and convictions remain limited. In 2022/2023, only 10,435 arrests were made out of 18,108 reported child rape cases, and a mere 471 cases were enrolled for trial.
Judge van der Westhuizen referenced these figures in her ruling, noting that society cannot tolerate such widespread violence without strong legal consequences. “When the state succeeds in prosecuting cases like this, it must impose the harshest possible sentence,” she said.
A call for national action
Activists have renewed calls for a comprehensive child safety strategy. The ATM, in its statement, urged government to lead a coordinated national effort, while encouraging partnerships with NGOs and community leaders to create safer environments for children.
“The tragedy of Amantle Samane must not be in vain,” Ntshona said. “It should serve as a wake-up call for South Africa to act decisively against the scourge of child abuse.”
For Amantle’s family, however, the pain remains immeasurable. As her mother quietly told reporters leaving the courthouse: “We pray no other child suffers the way our little girl did.”
