RAPIST STEPDAD SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT 

18 AUGUST 2025 

RAPIST STEPDAD SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT 

Mitchells Plain, South Africa, The Mitchells Plain Regional Court has sentenced a 43-year-old man to an effective life imprisonment following his conviction for almost two decades of raping his stepdaughter, starting when she was a minor. The court convicted the Eastridge, Mitchells Plain, man on charges of indecent assault, sexual assault and four counts of rape, which started when she was three years old, committed by a man she called ‘daddy.’ 

The accused, who cannot be named, avoided directly and indirectly identifying the victim and secondary victimisation, and was married to the victim’s mother. She called him daddy as he was her stepfather. He started sexually violating her when she was 7 years old, and her ordeal continued for almost two decades. Violations were in different forms and happened until she reported the incidents. Her ordeal was made worse as her mother decided not to believe her and even testified in her rapist’s defence during his trial. 

The accused denied the rapes and claimed that he had an affair with the victim from the age of 19 years old and had consensual sexual relations with her in the same house she was raised in. State prosecutor, Chantal Adams, led the victim, who testified that her mother would be in the other room when he would pester her for sex and would take her to the bathroom where he would rape her. 

A probation officer’s report indicated that the accused seemed to have convinced his wife and the rest of the family that he had sexual relations with his stepdaughter, who called him daddy. The rapes were so bad that medical evidence showed old scars, wounds, and tears, which are still present despite the victim’s advanced age. She is 24 years old now. The court rejected his claims of an affair and consensual sex. It then sentenced him to five years direct imprisonment for indecent assault, five years direct imprisonment for sexual assault, life imprisonment for rape, 10 years direct imprisonment for each of the three counts of rapes, bringing his total sentence to life imprisonment and 40 years direct imprisonment. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, effectively sentencing him to life imprisonment. 

It declared him unfit to possess a firearm and ordered his name to be placed in the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared him unsuitable to work with children and that his name be recorded in the National Child Protection Register for persons unsuitable to work with children. The court ordered the prosecutor to inform the victim of her right to make representations should the accused be considered for parole, parole day or correctional supervision or attend any relevant meetings of the parole board. 

Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell expressed appreciation for the work done by the prosecution, the investigating team and those who assisted the victim to be able to testify and get justice for herself. She bemoaned the actions of the mother who took the side of the rapist and even testified in his defence. She further committed the NPA to ensure justice and will always stand side by side with the victims of such heinous crimes. 

Issued by: 

Eric Ntabazalila 

National Prosecuting Authority 

Regional Communications Manager – Western Cape 

Tel: (021) 487 7308 

Mobile: 073 062 1222