A 17-year-old was sentenced to 18 years in prison for rapping and murdering an elderly woman.

The Northern Cape high court sentenced a 17-year-old to 18 years in prison for the rape, murder, and aggravated robbery of an 81-year-old woman.

The court also deemed the accused unsuitable to possess a handgun and ordered that his name be submitted to the national sex offenders register, according to provincial police spokeswoman Capt Olebogeng Tawana.

"The accused accosted an 81-year-old woman at her home in Cassel village in July 2021 and raped, murdered, and looted her of her valuables," Tawana said.

"The accused was arrested, Lt-Col Doggy Magugu, the investigating officer, successfully opposed bail, and he was held in police custody until the trial was completed."

Brig Nicky Mills, the acting deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection, praised Magugu.