DOUBLE LIFE SENTENCE FOR RAPIST STEPFATHER
30 MAY 2025
DOUBLE LIFE SENTENCE FOR RAPIST STEPFATHER
The Scottburgh Regional Court has sentenced a 45-year-old man to two terms of life imprisonment for the repeated rape of his two stepdaughters between 2019 and 2023. The incidents took place in various areas on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The accused who practiced as a traditional healer started raping the first complainant when she was 12 years old. He told her that he needed to apply some oil to her genitals because she was troubled by evil spirits. He called her into his ancestral hut and raped her. He went on to rape her on four other occasions.
He started raping the second complainant when she was 13 years old. He raped her under the pretense of needing her help to look for a lost cow. On another occasion he took her into his ancestral hut to apply medicine to her skin but raped her instead. The accused impregnated the complainant twice and, on both instances, he convinced her mother that she was impregnated by a spiritual animal and that she needed to abort the pregnancies.
The accused’s actions eventually came to light when one of the complainants told her mother what was going on, and they alerted the police. The accused went on the run, but police eventually traced him through their informant network, and he was arrested. The complainants were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated.
In the state’s case, Prosecutor Akhile Gcume led the testimonies of the two complainants, their first reports and the medical doctor who examined them. The investigating officer told the court how the accused was arrested. The state also handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by both the complainants and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nokukhanya Mkhize. In their statements, both complainants mentioned that they suffered greatly due to the actions of the accused. They mentioned that they have not been able to concentrate at school, and that the incidents have ruined their lives.
The accused was sentenced accordingly and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the conviction and sentencing of a stepfather who was found guilty of the repeated rape of his stepdaughter. The court imposed a double life sentence, reflecting the seriousness and depravity of the crimes committed against vulnerable children in his care. This case represents a grave betrayal of trust, a guardian who exploited his position to violate the very peeple he was meant to protect. The victim’s bravery in coming forward and their determination to see justice served stand as a powerful reminder of the resilience of survivors.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229