MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING HIS NEIGHBOUR'S MINOR DAUGHTER
06 NOVEMBER 2025
MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING HIS NEIGHBOUR'S MINOR DAUGHTER
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) welcomes a sentence of life imprisonment handed down by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court to a 33-year-old man from Mamelodi East. This is after he was convicted of rape of his neighbour’s 12-year-old girl. The court ordered that his name be added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm and to work with children.
On 05 June 2016, during the night, the mother of the 12-year-old victim left both the victim and her 5-year-old sibling in their room at their place of residence in Mamelodi East to meet with a friend at a tavern nearby. While at the tavern waiting for her friend, the mother of the victim saw the 33-year-old man who offered to buy food for her children and drop it off at her place of residence. The mother of the victim and the man both went to the shops and bought the food. Thereafter, the mother gave the man the keys to her house so he could deliver the food to her children while she remained behind at the tavern.
When the man arrived at the victims’ place of residence, he woke up the 12-year-old victim and her 5-year-old sibling and gave them food. After eating, the man took the victim, placed her on the bed, and began to rape her in the presence of her 5-year-old sibling. While the man was raping the victim, the mother of the victim came home with her friend, knocked at the door, and when she did not get a response, she went to the window, opened the curtain, and saw the man raping her child. When the man realised that the mother of the victim saw him, he immediately got dressed and opened the door. After entering the room, the mother of the child questioned the man about what he was doing, and while doing so, the mother's friend called the police, and the man was arrested on the scene. The victim was taken to Mamelodi Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), where she received medical care, psychological and legal assistance from the police and prosecutors.
In court, the man pleaded not guilty to the offence and denied raping the minor. However, State Prosecutor, Charlene Khosa, presented compelling evidence from the victim, her sibling and the doctor that proved the man’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. During sentencing, through his legal representative, the man requested the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence, arguing that he is a first-time offender, has three minor children he is maintaining and an unborn child he will need to take care of. However, Khosa argued that the man is convicted of a very serious offence that is prevalent in the court's jurisdiction and that the man showed no remorse as he pleaded not guilty.
Furthermore, she asked the court to impose a sentence that will send a strong message to society that such offences are not tolerated and deter any future offenders. Khosa also handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer (CPO) Chadd Wentzel, where the victim expressed how the offence has physically and emotionally impacted her, as she now has stress and trauma, which resulted in her not being able to perform at school and feels that the man took her innocence and childhood away from her. Therefore, Khosa asked the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment.
In sentencing, Magistrate Johanna Luus agreed with the state that the man showed no remorse and that he is convicted of a very serious offence. Moreover, she said that the man was a mature 23-year-old when he committed the offence; therefore, he has no excuse for why he raped a 12-year-old child and ruined her life. “The court intends to send a clear message that such offences will not be tolerated by the court as rape is a violent crime”, she said. As such, the magistrate found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, applauds the work of the prosecutor and said that all sexual violence violates victims’ constitutional rights to dignity and bodily integrity. The NPA prosecutes these crimes with unrelenting determination, ensuring perpetrators face the full might of the law and victims receive justice.
The NPA commends the vigilance of the mother and swift reporting. This case encourages all South Africans to unite by reporting such cases of gender-based violence against children so that victims can also receive ongoing support throughout the court process from TCCs.
Issued by:
Lumka Mahanjana
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Gauteng Division: Pretoria
073 002 0000