NPA SECURES 25-YEAR SENTENCE FOR STEPFATHER WHO RAPED FIVE-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER
Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence imposed by the Kimberley Regional Court, which sentenced a 50-year-old man to 25 years' direct imprisonment after convicting him of raping his five-year-old stepdaughter.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on 21 October 2023. The accused, who was residing at the same address as the victim and her family, arrived home at approximately 13:30 and found the child at home with her mother, sister, and her mother's friend watching television.
The accused, who was under the influence of alcohol, lured the child to his room under the pretext of giving her Simba chips. Instead of fulfilling that promise, he sexually violated the child by raping her. The offence was interrupted when the child's mother caught the accused in the act. She immediately reported the matter to the police, and the child was taken to hospital for a medical examination. The attending doctor confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault. The accused was swiftly arrested and charged with the rape of a minor.
The Galeshewe Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) played a critical role in supporting the victim and her mother by providing professional counselling and psychosocial services as part of the comprehensive interventions offered through the NPA's Thuthuzela Care Centre programme. The programme adopts a victim-centred, multidisciplinary approach to addressing gender-based violence, ensuring that survivors and their families receive the necessary care, support, and guidance throughout the criminal justice process.
The counselling and support services assisted both the victim and her mother in dealing with the emotional and psychological trauma resulting from the offence, while empowering them to navigate the court process with appropriate support structures in place.
During the trial, Regional Court Prosecutor Matilda Sekhoetsane argued for a sentence that reflected the gravity of the offence. The State submitted that the accused had abused the trust placed in him by the child's mother in his capacity as a parental figure. Instead of protecting the child, he betrayed that trust and subjected her to a horrific act of sexual violence. The State contended that a lengthy term of direct imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence in light of the seriousness of the crime and its devastating impact on the victim.
To strengthen the state's case during sentencing proceedings, Court Preparation Officer Dimpho Nikane and Provincial Manager Matshidiso Maubane assisted in preparing Victim Impact Statements. These statements detailed the profound emotional and psychological impact of the crime on both the child and her mother, who was in a relationship with the accused at the time of the offence.
In sentencing the accused, the court imposed a sentence of 25 years' direct imprisonment. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm, ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, and declared him unfit to work with children.
The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to combating gender-based violence and protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The successful prosecution and significant sentence imposed in this matter demonstrate the NPA's determination to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure that justice is served for the most vulnerable members of society.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson | Northern Cape Division