PENSIONER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF HIS GREAT- GRANDCHILD

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment handed down on a 70-year-old pensioner by the KwaMhlanga Regional Court for the rape of his nine-year-old great-grandchild in August 2020. The incident happened at Kwa Mhlanga where the accused and the victim resided. The accused’s name is withheld from the statement to protect the victim from secondary victimisation.

On 10 August 2020, the accused dropped off the victim at her paternal family’s home while accompanying his wife to a ceremony in KwaVezubuhle. Late that evening, the accused returned to collect the victim and proceeded to his home. When they arrived home, the victim went to sleep on the floor, which was her usual place in the accused's room. While sleeping, the accused picked her up from the floor, placed her on the bed, and raped her. When done, the accused threatened to assault the victim if she informed anyone about the rape.

The incident came to light in September 2020, when the victim was watching a television programme where a woman had been raped. This prompted her to confide in her mother about the ordeal. The victim was taken to Kwa Mhlanga Hospital where she received medical treatment and psychosocial support.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty and denied ever raping the victim. Instead, he alleged that the victim’s grandmother had fabricated the allegations against him. State Prosecutor Biance Harmse presented strong evidence of the victim. She testified in detail about how the rape occurred and explained that the accused had applied lotion before raping her. She further testified that she only learned about the concept of rape during Life Skills lessons at school. The victim's grandmother testified. A J88 Medical report showing injuries was presented to the court. The court rejected the accused’s version as a bare denial and found that the state’s evidence, including the corroborated testimony, was credible and reliable.

In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Harmse addressed the court that the accused had destroyed the victim’s life instead of protecting her, as her great-grandfather had ruined the victim’s life, and the victim will continue to relive the ordeal, emphasising the seriousness of the offence the accused was convicted of and the interest of justice.

The court found no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence. It sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for rape, declared him unfit to possess a firearm, unsuitable to work with children, and ordered his name to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the conviction and sentence and continues its fight against the scourge of abuse against women and children in our communities

Ends,

Monica Nyuswa

NPA Regional Spokesperson

DPP Mpumalanga