A 49-year-old stepfather has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his stepdaughter for years. This is after he was convicted on 12 May 2022.
STEPFATHER LOCKED UP FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS STEPDAUGHTER
The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court sentenced the stepfather from Willows in Pretoria East to 1 life term, for 1 count of rape, 10 years for 3 counts of rape, 4 years for sexual assault, 3 years for assault with grievous body harm, and 3 years for pointing of a firearm.
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The National Prosecuting Authority Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the magistrate ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.
HOW THE ACCUSED MET THE COMPLAINANT
According to Lumka, the stepfather and the complainant’s mother were married and living together with the complainant.
“When the child was 3 years old, the stepfather started assaulting her. However, when she was 7 years old, he started to assault her both sexually and physically until 2019, when she was 17 years old,” she explained.
“These incidents happened when her mother was at work or away.”
Lumka
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In 2018 the complainant told the stepfather that she wanted to kill herself because she was unable to deal with her experiences. Instead, the stepfather pointed her with a gun and threatened to kill her and her mother.
On 15 January 2019, when the stepfather raped her again, she told her boyfriend what had happened and together they reported the matter to the school social worker, who reported it to the police.
“The same day the stepfather was arrested but was only remanded in custody after his conviction.”
Lumka
ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY DESPITE DENIAL
She said after his arrest, the child moved to stay with her grandparents and received counselling.
“In court, the stepfather pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. However, when the child testified in court, she told the court that the incidents affected her and she is now a broken person who is dead inside,” Lumka detailed.
She went on, “In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor told the court that the accused abused a child who he was supposed to protect. He showed no remorse for his actions, therefore a sentence of life imprisonment was appropriate, and she asked the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence”.
Lumka concluded to say the NPA welcomed the sentence and hopes it will send a message to all perpetrators of violence against children.