Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Rape of His Minor Stepdaughter

03 April 2025

Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Rape of His Minor Stepdaughter

The Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court convicted and sentenced a 34-year-old man from Matsulu to life imprisonment for the rape of his minor stepdaughter (14). The accused’s name will be withheld from the statement to protect the victim from secondary victimization. The victim is originally from Swaziland and was brought to South Africa to live with her mother as she was allegedly abused by her stepmother in Swaziland.
After the victim was brought to South Africa, the accused informed her that she was brought to the country to perform sexual intercourse with him. During the period between February 2018 and September 2019, the accused would wait for his wife to go to work and rape the victim when they are alone in the house. As a result, the victim developed hatred towards her mother and subsequently started to sleep at her friend’s place. When the accused noticed that the victim was no longer sleeping in the house, he started complaining to his wife that the victim was getting naughty by sleeping around with boys. The incident came to light when the victim sent her mother a message expressing her frustrations that she was brought to the country to be a sex slave for her husband. The mother was shocked about the news and reported the matter to her pastor who removed the victim from the accused’s house. The matter was reported to the police which led to the arrest of the accused.

In court, the accused denied the allegations levelled against him and testified that the victim was a liar and that she started dating at the age of twelve. He further told the court that he was a protective father to her. State prosecutor Thembi Mabuza led reliable evidence from the victim’s mother, the victim and the doctor who examined the victim. J88 medical report showing injuries to the victim’s private part was submitted as part of the evidence. The court found state witnesses reliable and rejected the accused’s version.

In aggravation of the sentence, prosecutor Mabuza argued that the accused was in a position of trust as a stepfather who was supposed to protect the victim and not violate her addressing the court to impose a prescribed minimum sentence of life. In addition, Prosecutor Mabuza submitted a victim impact statement facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Zodwa Lekhuleni compiled by the victim narrating how the rape ordeal has negatively impacted her life.
Magistrate Cloete found no substantial or compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. The court ordered his name to be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders and was declared unfit to posses a firearm.

This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the criminal justice system addresses gender-based violence. Sexual violence not only violates the dignity and privacy of victims, as protected by the Constitution but also erodes societal trust.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) continues aggressively prosecuting these cases to ensure justice for all victims.

Issued by:

Monica Nyuswa
NPA Regional Spokesperson
DPP Mpumalanga
0130450625
0764855446
Email: mnyuswa@npa.gov.za