Brave teen’s testimony secures rapist’s life sentence
A brave teen’s report exposed months of abuse and helped put her rapist behind bars for life.
MAYFLOWER – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed a life imprisonment sentence handed down by the eLukwatini Magistrate’s Court to a man convicted of raping of a 13-year-old girl.
The crime occurred repeatedly in Mayflower between April and October 2019.
In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered his inclusion on the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared him unfit to possess a firearm, and deemed him unsuitable to work with children.
The victim, then 13, resided with her grandparents in the same yard as her attacker in Mayflower.
Court proceedings revealed that the girl was repeatedly targeted.
“On one occasion, he entered her bedroom armed with a sjambok, demanding she become his second wife and bear his children. When she refused, he assaulted her with the sjambok before raping her,” said Monica Nyuswa, NPA regional spokesperson.
The abuse came to light when the victim’s school noticed her absence from classes and dispatched social workers to her home.
During their visit, the victim disclosed the rape, prompting a police investigation that led to an arrest.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming the victim seduced him.
Read the complete article in Highvelder.
