Neighbour jailed for life for raping 10-year-old girl in Davel
The court heard that the girl was walking home from a nearby tuck shop when she was approached by her neighbour.
ERMELO – The Ermelo Regional Court has convicted and sentenced a 37-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a 10-year-old girl.
The crime took place on June 19, 2021, in KwaDela, Davel.
The court heard that the girl was walking home from a nearby tuck shop when she was approached by her neighbour.
He grabbed her, dragged her to a roadside, and raped her.
According to Monica Nyuswa, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesperson, the accused threatened the girl and said he would unleash his dogs on her if she reported the incident.
The victim’s aunt noticed that she was struggling to walk and appeares distressed.
Upon questioning, the brave girl revealed the ordeal and identified her attacker. She was taken to the Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre for a medical examination, which led to the man’s arrest.
During the trial, he pleaded not guilty, claiming that witnesses had conspired against him.
However, State Prosecutor Chané Rothman presented compelling evidence, including the initial report, the victim’s testimony, facilitated through intermediary services to reduce trauma, and a J88 medical report confirming injuries.
The court deemed the state’s witnesses credible and dismissed the accused’s defence as implausible.
During sentencing, the victim testified about the profound impact of the ordeal.
Prosecutor Rothman emphasised that, as a neighbour, the man was expected to protect the child, not violate her.
“She noted the victim’s history of multiple traumas and the accused’s lack of remorse, arguing that no substantial circumstances justified deviating from the prescribed life imprisonment sentence under the Criminal Law Amendment Act,” Nyuswa said.
In its ruling, the court highlighted the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa and the urgent need to protect vulnerable individuals.
The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
He was also declared unfit to work with children or possess a firearm.
The NPA welcomed the sentence, reaffirming its dedication to delivering justice for victims of gender-based violence and fostering safer communities.
