BIOLOGICAL FATHER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPE OF HIS TWO MINOR DAUGHTERS
BIOLOGICAL FATHER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPE OF HIS TWO MINOR DAUGHTERS
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) strongly condemned the sexual abuse of children and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that such heinous crimes are met with the full force of the law.
This follows the sentencing of a 44-year-old man to two life terms of imprisonment by the Nelspruit Regional Court in Mpumalanga for raping his two minor daughters on separate occasions.
The accused’s identity is withheld to protect the victims from secondary victimisation.
According to Mpumalanga NPA Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the rapes occurred between 2015 and 2017 at Lehawu Trust near Pienaar in the Mbombela district.
“After separating from the victims’ mothers, the accused arranged weekend visits with his daughters. He would fetch them from their parental homes and take them to his residence, where he raped them at night. The first victim was 13 years old at the time of the offences.
“The crimes came to light after she wrote a suicidal note to her grandmother, revealing that her father had sexually violated her and that she had even contemplated taking poison. The second victim, aged 11, was later found with a mark on her neck. Upon questioning, she disclosed that her father had also sexually abused her. Both victims received medical and psychosocial support at the Themba Thuthuzela Care Centre. The accused was arrested in 2020,” she said.
Nyuswa said the accused pleaded not guilty but was convicted on both counts of rape following strong evidence presented by State Prosecutor Lazarus Rabothata.
“This included the testimonies of the two victims and J88’s medical reports confirming sexual injuries. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Rabothata highlighted the prevalence of the offence, the horrific breach of trust by a father, and the severe trauma inflicted on his daughters.
“He argued that life imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence on each count. The court found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment on each of the two counts of rape.”
Nyswa further s
