The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula has welcomed the two life sentences handed down to Mortimer Saunders at the Cape High Court today for the rape and murder of Courtney Pieters. The three-year-old girl from Elsies River was reported missing and her body was discovered after nine days in May 2017. A thorough investigation by the detectives led to the arrest of the suspect on 14 May 2017.

Crimes against children remain a top priority for the SAPS and perpetrators of such crimes will not escape the long arm of the law, says Lt Gen Jula.

The sentence comes on the back of 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign that saw heightened awareness on crimes against women and children. The Western Cape is notorious for crimes affecting young children.

Source: South African Police Service