By Mashamba Media
news@alexreporter.co.za
The eMalahleni Regional Court has sentenced a forty six-year- old man to two life terms for two counts rape. The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently convicted of raping his stepdaughter and her younger sister. During 2022, the accused was left with her stepdaughter & her younger sister whilst attending training in Pretoria.
The minor victim was preparing for her sister to bathe when the accused pushed her over the bed, undressed her and raped her.
Again, on 15 September 2023, the accused and his wife fought. The wife locked herself in their bedroom then the accused went to the children’s room and took the complainant to the living room, forced her to take off her clothes, pushed her over the couch and raped her.
Whilst the accused was busy on top of the complainant, the wife walked in and found the shock of her life. The accused put on his clothes and went to the police to hand himself over.
In court, the accused pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and was found guilty as charged. In aggravation of sentence, State prosecutor Ellen Mafata addressed the court that the accused pleaded guilty because of the overwhelming evidence against him and that the accused abused the position of trust by sexually violating the victims arguing for the court to impose the minimum sentence as prescribed by the law.
A victim impact statement compiled by the victim’s mother facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Musa Mkhatshwa, was presented. In her statement, the mother said she felt betrayed by the accused’s action as he was in a position of trust to protect the victims.
She said she was disturbed by the ordeal and is still shocked by what she witnessed the day of the incident. Magistrate Combrinck agreed to the state’s submission.
He found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from an ordained sentence. The accused was sentenced to two life terms and was declared unfit to work with children in terms of the Children’s Act and the court ordered his name to be included in National Register for Sexual Offenders .
The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the successful finalisation of the matter and hoped that this sentence would deter like-minded individuals and address the scourge of gender-based violence.