UPINGTON FATHER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING HIS DAUGHTER
03 OCTOBER 2025
UPINGTON FATHER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPING HIS DAUGHTER
Upington, Northern Cape - A 45-year-old father has been sentenced to 3 terms of life imprisonment for the rape of his biological daughter (14 years old), plus an additional 3 months’ imprisonment for the assault on her. The court also ordered that the accused's details be entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders. All the incidents occurred during 2016, when the complainant went to stay with her father, as her mother, who was separated from the accused at the time, was residing in the Western Cape seeking employment.
The court heard that one evening in April 2016, the accused went to the bedroom of his daughter and lay next to her on the bed. Through the testimony of the victim, the court heard how the accused used his private parts, rubbing them against the thighs of the victim, before raping her.
The second incident occurred one evening in November 2016, when the victim went to sleep, and when she became aware of her surroundings, she found herself on the bed on the veranda (stoep). It had appeared that the accused had picked her up from her bed in the bedroom and taken her outside, where he had raped her. Again, in November of 2016, the accused went to her bedroom whilst she was sleeping and raped her for the third time. The accused not only raped the victim but also physically assaulted her, slapping her when she refused to perform sexual acts on his private parts.
The victim was too afraid to report the abuse, as the accused had intimidated her. He told her that if she revealed what he had done, he would go to jail, and she would be taken away from her family. Out of fear, she never disclosed the incidents to anyone. Instead, she kept a journal in the form of unsent letters, which she hid like the terrible secret she was carrying. These letters later proved crucial during the prosecution, as they substantiated and corroborated her testimony. This underscores the importance of record-keeping in abuse cases, particularly when victims are unable to report the crime immediately. After repeatedly pleading with her mother, she eventually went to live with her. One evening, the accused arrived at her mother’s house and demanded that she return to his home. When the complainant refused, her mother contacted the police, as the accused was insistent that she leave with him. The following day, the police investigated why she was unwilling to stay with her father. It was only then that she finally disclosed that he had raped her.
In aggravation, Prosecutor Friedle Du Plessis highlighted the repulsive conduct of the accused, who, even after the incidents, shamelessly demanded that the complainant return to his home. This underscores the revolting and predatory nature of his actions. His conduct destroyed the spirit of a young, vibrant child. Her Victim Impact Statement laid bare the profound trauma she endured, describing how she felt isolated, uncared for, and even driven to the brink of contemplating suicide. The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the Northern Cape, Advocate Johannes Cloete, commends the prosecution team for their unwavering dedication in securing justice for the young victim by ensuring that the victim is sentenced to life imprisonment.
The National Prosecuting Authority reaffirms its resolute commitment to fearlessly pursue justice against perpetrators of gender-based violence, without fear, favour, or prejudice, and will continue to ensure that the voices of survivors are heard and justice is done. Each of these successful prosecutions is the culmination of months and even years of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work and exemplifies hundreds of similar cases prosecuted successfully daily.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
073 423 3539