By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a stepfather (38) from Eesterust to life imprisonment for rape of his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
This is after he was convicted of raping his stepdaughter multiple times at their home between 2018 and 2019.
Lumka Mahanjana,
NPA Regional Spokesperson said the stepfather, mother and the child were staying together at the same house.
“However, the stepfather would rape the child while the mother was at work, working night shift. This was discovered after the child disclosed what was happening to her to her teacher at school.
“After the teacher told the mother what the child told her, the mother reported the matter to the police,” Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said that after the stepfather learnt that the police were looking for him, he fled for a few months and later returned and handed himself over to the police on 27 June 2019.
In court he pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him and denied ever raping the minor.
However, in her testimony using intermediary services of the Department of Justice, the child told the court how the incidents happened and how the stepfather threatened her life if she ever told any one about the rape.
“Also, in her victim impact statement compiled by the court preparation officer, Chadd Wentzel, she informed the court that due to the incidents she no longer trusts men, that her performance at school deteriorated and she continues to have flashbacks of the incidents.
In aggravation of sentence, the prosecutor Advocate Michael Shivuri told the court that the stepfather was in a position of trust and he abused that trust. In court he showed no remorse for his actions and refused to take responsibility.
He further argued that the stepfather committed a serious offence; therefore, he asked the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment.
The magistrate agreed with the state that the sentence given was the only appropriate sentence
Mahanjana added that the NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence.