70-YEAR-OLD GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT 

30 JULY 2025 

70-YEAR-OLD GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT 

The Estcourt Regional Court has sentenced a 70-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a 12-year-old girl on two occasions in the Phangweni area in 2022. The accused and the complainant (and her family) lived in the same area, and they were known to each other, as he was a family friend. In both instances where the complainant was raped, the accused asked the complainant’s granny for the complainant to come over to his house and assist him with a chore. The granny agreed to this and sent the complainant to the accused’s house together with two other minor children – the complainant’s cousins. Whilst there, the accused would send the two other children outside either to go look for something or pick fruit from the trees. During this time, he raped the complainant. He threatened to assault her if she told anyone what he was doing. 

In the second instance, one of the children who were sent outside looked through the window of the house and witnessed the accused raping the complainant. This child did not reveal to the complainant or the accused that he had seen them. However, later, when they had returned home, the child (cousin) teased the complainant about it, and the complainant began crying. She then told her granny what the accused was doing to her. The accused was confronted and subsequently arrested. 

In court, Prosecutor Nokubonga Buthelezi led the testimonies of the complainant, her granny, and the cousin. The complainant told the court that the incident had ruined her life, and she no longer feels the same as other children. The granny told the court that their family was devastated by the accused’s actions as they had trusted him. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the successful conviction and sentence. The NPA remains resolute in our pursuit of justice for victims of child abuse. We will continue to protect the rights and dignity of children. 

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara 

NPA Regional Spokesperson 

KZN Division 

0716700229