Father Handed Six Life Terms For Raping His Daughter Multiple Times

Bloemfontein: A 36-year-old man from Clocolan was sentenced to six life terms by the High Court of South Africa: Free State Division sitting in Ladybrand after he was found guilty of raping his 14-year-old daughter six times. Judge Pina Mathebula sentenced the father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter between May and July 2021.

The victim was staying with the accused, his wife, who is the stepmother, and two other siblings. In May 2021, the accused told his wife that his late brother told him in a dream, “to get rid of tokoloshe that was inside the victim”. The very same night of the alleged dream, the accused raped the victim. A week after the first incident, the victim and her siblings were sleeping when the accused raped the victim again. The last rape incident took place on 25 July 2021.

The wife tried to reprimand him but he assaulted her, overpowered and raped the victim, notwithstanding her cries and his wife’s reprimands. He threatened to kill both of them if they were to tell anyone of what he did. A day later, the accused’s sister visited the family and the wife told her what the husband has done to the child. The sister reported his brother to the police and he was arrested.

In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor, Adv. Moipone Moroka submitted a victim impact report facilitated by Bulelani Mothabeng, in which the victim thanks her aunt for coming to her rescue because if it was not because of her, she would still be her father’s sex slave. Moroka further argued that the scourge of violence against women and children has reached an alarming proportion and can be described as a pandemic. “What aggravates the matter is that the father raped his daughter multiple times over three months and this means he had an ample opportunity to reflect on his actions, but he continued betraying the trust his daughter had in him”, said Moroka.

The father was sentenced to six life sentences for rape and two years for assault and the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.  

Issued by:

PHALADI SHUPING                                                                                                                               

NPA REGIONAL SPOKESPERSON: FREE STATE                                                                                    

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