TZANEEN MAN SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR REPEATEDLY RAPING 11-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER
TZANEEN: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the imposition of two life sentences by the Tzaneen Regional Court on a 43-year-old man from Ga-Sekgopo for the repeated rape of his 11-year-old stepdaughter.
The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court heard how he abused his position of trust as a stepfather. Between 2018 and 2020, on two separate occasions, while the child’s mother was away from home, the accused called the victim into the house and raped her.
In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor Isaac Mahlangu presented pre-sentence and victim impact reports, which detailed the severe psychological and emotional trauma suffered by the minor victim.
The State emphasised the extreme seriousness of the offences, their prevalence in the country, and the fact that the accused betrayed his fundamental duty to protect the child.
The Director of Public Prosecutions for the division, Adv. Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence, describing it as the result of thorough investigative work and dedicated prosecution.
