NPA WELCOMES LIFE SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED OF RAPING A CHILD

Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Empangeni Regional Court on a 66-year-old man for the rape of a minor. The offences were committed in 2021 in the Mzingazi area near Richards Bay. The complainant was 12 years old at the time.

Evidence presented before the court revealed that the accused, who was known to the complainant as they lived in the same community, raped her on three separate occasions when he was alone with her. During this period, he bought the child a cellphone and instructed her not to show it to her family.

The offences came to light when the complainant’s mother noticed the cellphone and questioned her daughter about it. The complainant then disclosed that the accused had purchased the cellphone for her and had been sexually abusing her.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest. The complainant was referred to the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), where she received medical care and psychosocial support.

During the trial, Prosecutor Edwina du Plessis led the evidence of the complainant, her mother as the first report witness, and medical experts. In aggravation of sentence, the State handed in Victim Impact Statements compiled by the complainant and her mother, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Seneliso Sibanda.

In her statement, the complainant told the court that she felt as though she had lost her dignity. She further explained that she had become aggressive towards her peers and had developed a deep distrust of men following the traumatic abuse she endured.

The complainant’s mother expressed her anguish, stating that she could not understand what she had done to the accused for him to inflict such devastating harm on her daughter.

After considering all the evidence, the court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. In addition, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm, unfit to work with children, and his name was ordered to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to combating sexual offences and gender-based violence and ensuring justice for survivors. This commitment is reinforced by the continued expansion of the Thuthuzela Care Centre network, which grew from 55 centres in 2020/21 to 66 centres across the country. These centres provide integrated medical, legal, and psychosocial services to survivors of sexual violence and continue to play a critical role in supporting victims while contributing to the successful prosecution of offenders.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KwaZulu-Natal Division