Step-Grandfather Sentenced for Rape and Sexual Assault
Step-Grandfather Sentenced for Rape and Sexual Assault
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga – The Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a 62-year-old step-grandfather to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape and sexual assault of a minor. The crimes occurred in 2017 during the victim’s school holiday visits to her grandmother’s home in Komatipoort, where the accused resided. Over several occasions, the accused exploited the household’s sleep hours, entering the victim’s room to touch her inappropriately before raping her.
The victim, fearing reprisal, did not immediately disclose the abuse to her grandmother. The ordeal surfaced when the grandmother reported the victim’s “unruly” behaviour during visits to her mother. Upon confrontation, the victim bravely revealed the repeated sexual violations she had endured. The matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest in 2022 and subsequent charges.
The accused pleaded not guilty, forcing a trial. State Prosecutor Leann Jones presented compelling evidence, anchored by the victim’s detailed testimony of the nighttime assaults. The victim’s mother corroborated her account, detailing the behavioural changes that prompted the disclosure. A forensic social worker’s comprehensive report further substantiated the evidence. Magistrate Vanessa Joubert deemed the State’s witnesses credible and reliable, rejecting the accused’s version as unconvincing. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Jones argued for the prescribed minimum sentence, emphasizing that the accused’s predatory behaviour warranted a strong societal message. Magistrate Joubert agreed, sentencing him to 25 years’ direct imprisonment. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm and ordered his name entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
This sentence reflects the criminal justice system’s firm stance against gender-based violence. Sexual violence violates victims’ constitutional rights to dignity and privacy while undermining societal trust. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains steadfast in prosecuting such cases to deliver justice and support all victims.
Issued by:
Monica Nyuswa
NPA Regional Spokesperson
DPP Mpumalanga
0130450625
0764855446
Email: mnyuswa@npa.gov.za