A 41-year-old man from Carnarvon in the Northern Cape has been sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment for assaulting his eleven-year-old son.
The accused was found guilty by the Carnarvon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
The incident occurred at the family home in Carnarvon on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, between 20:00 and 20:30, after the minor requested his cellphone SIM card from his father.
What started as a minor argument quickly escalated into a violent assault. The accused repeatedly lashed the child with a belt, inflicting serious injuries and emotional trauma.
The victim initially managed to escape; however, the accused demanded that he return. Upon reaching him, the accused threw the child to the ground, sat on top of him, and assaulted him further.
The accused punched, kicked, and choked the victim before striking him with a knee to the ribs.
The victim cried out for help, which alerted his mother, who intervened and came to his rescue.
A case of Assault with Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) was subsequently opened at the Carnarvon Police Station, which led to the arrest of the accused on 11 August 2025.
On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, the accused was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Sergeant Marlon Eksteen of the Carnarvon Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit investigated the matter and ensured a thorough investigation in pursuit of justice for the victim.