Mbombela - A man appearing before the Tonga Regional Court was on Thursday sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment for raping his girlfriend's 11-year-old daughter.
Petros Masango, of Hhoyi village near the Swaziland and Mozambican border, had pleaded guilty to the crime after his arrest three years ago, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Magistrate Edgar Moletsane thanked Masango for pleading guilty.
“This means the victim won't have to come and testify and re-live her trauma. I won't give you a life sentence but I will give you a sentence that suits your offence and the guilty plea,” Moletsane said.
Masango's name would be listed in the sex offenders' register.
His victim had reportedly been exposed to sex since she was 10 years old.
“Studies show that such victims lose interest in sex when they grow up while some find themselves with sexual diseases,” said Moletsane.
He said while not all rape victims were killed, their “emotions were killed” by the ordeal.
Sapa