NPA WELCOMES LIFE SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED OF RAPING MINORS

Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the effective sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Empangeni Regional Court on a 45-year-old man following his conviction on charges of rape and sexual assault.

The offences were committed between 2020 and 2022, and the complainants, who were aged 10 and five years old at the time, were related to the accused.

The accused raped the first complainant, his biological daughter, on three occasions in his bedroom between 2020 and 2022. He sexually assaulted the second complainant, his niece, in 2022.

The matters came to light when the complainants’ cousin became suspicious and followed the first complainant to her father’s bedroom.

The cousin knocked on the door and told the complainant that her granny was calling her.

When the door was opened, the cousin observed that the complainant’s clothes were crumpled. She reported the matter to her mother, who approached the complainant. The complainant then disclosed that her father had raped her.

They subsequently learned about the sexual assault of the second complainant.

The matter was reported to the police, and the complainants were taken to the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medical and psychosocial assistance.

During the trial, Prosecutor Edwina du Plessis led the evidence of six witnesses, including the complainants, the witnesses who received the first reports, and the medical doctor who examined the complainants. In aggravation of sentence, the State handed in Victim Impact Statements compiled by the complainants and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Seneliso Sibanda.

In her statement, the first complainant said that she could not understand why her father would want to rape his own child. She said that what he did was immoral and unacceptable in society.

The second complainant said that she had expected her uncle to protect and care for her.

The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and eight years’ imprisonment for sexual assault. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment.

Additionally, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children. The court also 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 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