Port Elizabeth - A man was handed a life sentence for raping his teenage cousin by the Mqanduli Regional Court in the Eastern Cape on Friday, the National Prosecuting Authority said.
“We strongly believe this sentence does not only display the intolerance of the courts towards rape, but will also serve to restore the faith of the public in the criminal justice system,” NPA Eastern Cape spokesman Luxolo Tyali said in a statement.
He said the man, who could not be named because he was related to the victim, was found guilty of raping the girl twice, in 2011 and 2012.
The 13-year-old girl was subsequently infected with HIV/Aids.
Tyali said the infection was an aggravating factor in the case, and the court took a strong stance against the crime. - Sapa