Life Imprisonment for a man who raped a minor, Ladysmith Regional Court

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MAN WHO RAPED A MINOR
 
The Ladysmith Regional Court has sentenced a 41-year-old man to a term of life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the rape of a 5-year-old girl in November 2018, in the Ladysmith area. The man knew the child as he was her neighbour and her friend’s uncle. On the day of the incident, the child was playing outside her house, when the man gestured to her to follow him. He led her to an unoccupied house in the area and raped her. He then gave her R1 and sent her home, telling her not to report this to anyone. She went home and immediately told her mother what had happened, and the man was arrested shortly after.
 
In aggravation of sentence, the Regional Court Prosecutor, Sindisiwe Ntuli told the court that the man was an adult known to the child and was thus in a position of trust, however, he abused that trust. Ntuli further advised the court that there was DNA evidence linking the man to the offence. The man was sentenced to life imprisonment and was declared unfit to work with children. Further, he was deemed unfit to possess a firearm and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders.
 
The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter, hoping that this sentence sends the necessary deterrent message. We commend the work done by the prosecution and the police.
 
Kind regards,
 
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229/nramkisson@npa.gov.za