A Limpopo rapist has been sentenced to two life terms in the Giyani Regional Court for the rape of his niece.
The 31-year-old man cannot be named to protect the identity of his 10-year-old niece who is a victim and to protect her from secondary trauma.
The uncle pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape.
The court heard on November 13, 2020, he was at his niece’s home in Phikela village and waited until her mother left the house to perpetrate his crime.
The uncle offered the girl food and requested her to kneel down and while covering her face with his t-shirt he committed oral rape on her.
After he finished with the girl, he left to a nearby local shop and upon his return he found his niece sitting on the veranda.
The court further heard the uncle then ordered the girl to go to his room where he raped her.
When the girl’s mother returned back home, the young girl bravely told her mother what had transpired and how her uncle had violated her. The uncle was confronted with the information relayed to the mother but he denied the allegations.
The girl was taken to the clinic and later referred to the Nkhensani Hospital where medical examinations confirmed that she had been raped.
State Prosecutor Maumela Tumelo Matsheshla presented compelling evidence from the victim which showcased the undeniable truth of the two rapes committed by her uncle on that fateful day.
Matsheshla also submitted a J88 medical report which corroborated the girl’s testimony through forensic evidence provided by the doctor who examined her.
The probation officer who assessed the impact of the crime on the girl and her mother noted how the girl’s educational performance and social life had been adversely affected by the crime.
Matsheshla emphasised the prevalence and seriousness of sexual offences in the region, supported by disturbing statistics that highlight alarming trends in violence against children.
Magistrate Raguvhu Madzhiye said the uncle had presented no substantial and compelling circumstances that would justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. He characterised rape as an appalling crime that inflicts unimaginable suffering on victims, particularly when the victims are children.
Madzhiye also noted the uncle’s lack of remorse and stated he deserved to be removed from society for a very long time.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Advocate Invy Thenga expressed hope that this ruling will serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and reiterated the NPA’s commitment to protecting the rights of children.