Man sentenced to 18 years for raping 9-year-old nephew
Child rapist sentenced: NPA calls for strong action against sexual crimes.
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A 30-year-old North West man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the rape of his nine-year-old nephew.
The ruling was handed down by the Christiana Regional Court on November 10. The court also ordered that his name be added to the National Sex Offender Registry.
The convicted rapist, who lived with the victim and the child's mother in a three-bedroom house, repeatedly sexually assaulted the boy between August and September 2021, according to court evidence.
The assaults occurred while the mother slept in another room, and the child did not report the abuse until months later, when the mother noticed physical signs while bathing him.
NPA Communications Officer Sivenathi Gunya described the betrayal of trust. "Evidence presented in court revealed that between August and September 2021, he would wait for the mother of the boy to go to sleep.
"Whilst on the mattress, he undressed the victim and sexually assaulted him. After the incident, the victim was afraid to inform his mother. The mother became aware of the assault after eight months," he said.
The uncle pleaded not guilty throughout the trial. However, State Prosecutor Gcinumuzi Radebe presented evidence linking him to the assaults. The court found substantial and compelling reasons to deviate from a life sentence under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, settling on 18 years' imprisonment.
Gunya emphasised the broader significance of the sentence. "During the trial, he pleaded not guilty and denied his involvement in the assault. In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor Gcinumuzi Radebe argued that the offence is serious and prevalent of rape in his arguments. He articulated that the man's actions constituted a violation of the victim’s constitutional rights to bodily integrity and lasting trauma."
The Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) provided psychosocial and legal support to the victim throughout the proceedings.
The conviction comes amid rising activism against gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. Women For Change (WFC) has garnered strong online support and plans a national shutdown on November 21, calling on the government to declare GBV a national disaster. WFC founder Sabrina Walter described digital activism as a new form of protest, noting that not all activism happens in the streets.
"Not everyone can take a day off work or march in the streets, but this, this is their act of protest. Digital activism is real activism, and it can be so powerful," Walter said.
She described the campaign as South Africa's #MeToo moment, highlighting that women's collective strength can no longer be ignored. Adding to the movement, Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, spoke out on TikTok against GBV in the country.
"Guys, what we are doing is not normal. And I am going to again urge you not to become desensitised to what is happening because it is not normal," Mazaleni said.
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