Wife allegedly lures teen relatives to guesthouse for husband to rape

Gofaone Koogotsitse
CLOSE EYE: Kwadiba under CID Escort, IN THE HOT SEAT: Dickson Gondongwe (L-R)

In a cruel act of betrayal, a married couple are said to have lured two underage girls – both relatives of the wife – to a Molepolole guesthouse, where the husband raped them in the night.

The separate incidents happened within the space of three days, involving minors aged 14 and 15.

The suspects, Dickson Gondongwe, 40, and his wife, Martha Kwadiba, 41, who have a four-year-old daughter together, appeared before Molepolole Magistrates Court this week.

They were jointly charged with abduction, while Gondongwe, who is of Zimbabwean origin, was hit with two counts of rape.

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Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The disturbing allegations date back to 5 October, when the husband-and-wife duo tricked the 14-year-old into sneaking away from her parents. They then booked into a guesthouse in Phuthadikobo ward, where Gondongwe is later said to have forced himself upon the young teen against her will.

In an interview with The Voice, Molepolole Station Commander, Jacob Molapong, revealed the girl’s mother reported her missing the following morning after she failed to come home that night.

When the confused youngster finally returned later in the day, she grabbed a bag and was seemingly intending on heading back to the guesthouse when her mum alerted the cops.

According to Superintendent Molapong, his officers were later able to arrest the suspects.

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However, during the police’s enquiries, it emerged the couple had likely struck again the previous night.

It seems Kwadiba phoned a 15-year-old cousin from Gabane, inviting the teenager to come visit her at the same guesthouse.

In the night, with the girl curled up fast asleep on the floor, Gondongwe is said to have left his wife in bed and raped the child on the ground.

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In the morning, when she confided in Kwadiba, the older woman reportedly gave her some money to return to Gabane under strict instructions not to tell anyone what happened.

The couple, who reside in Francistown’s Gerald Estates, have been behind bars since their arrest.

Begging for bail, their attorney noted they were first-time offenders with no previous convictions. The lawyer added that keeping them locked up prevents them from caring for their four-year-old daughter.

On the opposite side of the argument, the Prosecutor, Thatayaone Marope warned that if released, Gondongwe would be free to continue his illicit sex spree.

“The court is the last entity to protect children’s rights, the case involves minors. Accused one [Gondongwe] has no formal work and residential permit that qualifies him to stay in the country and there is likelihood that he might not attend trial. I also pray that the police be given ample time to complete investigations,” said Sergeant Marope, adding there was a high possibility Kwadiba could interfere with the witnesses as she is related to the victims.

Having heard both sides, court will give a ruling on bail this Friday (15 November). Until then, the accused will remain on remand.

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