DURBAN: A 50-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his 10-year-old “stepdaughter”.
The child was raped in March 2019 in the Ngome area near Vryheid.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara said the man was in a long-term relationship with the victim’s mother and that the child would refer to him as her stepfather. The accused would often visit.
Kara said the victim lived with her mother and siblings and whenever the accused visited them, he would leave by the evening. On the day of the rape he stayed over.
“On the day of the incident, he visited their home and he and the victim’s mother drank alcohol. He stayed over that night and raped the victim at some point when everyone was asleep,” she said.
The following morning, the victim informed her mother about the incident and they reported it to the police station, she said.
“The man was subsequently arrested; however, he maintained his innocence,” said Kara.
Kara said that during the trial, regional court prosecutor Nomsa Precious Nkosi led the testimonies of the victim and her mother. Nkosi also led the medical evidence of the medical doctor.
“The victim, in her evidence, said that the offence has affected her and she can no longer concentrate at school. She was also scared of men and felt that she would never be able to trust another man,” she said.
Kara added that the child had said that she would try her best at school, so that she can become a teacher to be able to teach children how to protect themselves.
THE MERCURY