LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR THE RAPE OF A MINOR

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment handed down to a 45-year-old man by the Port Shepstone Regional Court for the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Boboyi, Port Shepstone, in 2022. The accused and the complainant lived in the same area.

According to evidence presented in court, the complainant’s mother noticed that her daughter was having difficulty walking and asked what was wrong. The child then disclosed that she had been raped by the accused at some point between March and May 2022. On the day of the incident, the complainant was playing at her friend’s house, where the accused was a tenant. While her friend went to the shop, the accused pulled her (the complainant) into his room and raped her. He threatened to harm her and her family if she told anyone.

The matter was reported to the police, and the complainant was taken to the Port Shepstone Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medico-legal and psychosocial support. The accused was subsequently arrested. In court, Prosecutor Chad Davey led the testimony of the complainant, her mother, and her friend. The State also presented evidence from the medical practitioner who examined the complainant and documented her injuries.

The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court further ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to combating sexual offences and gender-based violence. This commitment is strengthened by the continued expansion of the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) network, which has grown from 55 centres in 2020/2021 to 66 centres currently operational across the country. These centres provide integrated medical, legal, and psychosocial services to survivors, thereby enhancing the quality of prosecutions.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division