FOR just over 10 years, a son who is wheelchair-bound, and, according to his mother, lives with a neurological condition, allegedly suffered rape and sexual assault at the hands of his father.

The father is now in the dock at the Pinetown Regional Court for eight counts of rape and sexual assault.

During the testimony of the accused’s ex-wife on Wednesday (June 3), the court heard from her that she has since moved away from the Assagay area to the Northern Cape because she wanted to get as far away as possible “from here”.

The alleged incidents of rape and sexual assault were perpetrated from 1997, while the son was nine years old, until 2018.

The court heard on Wednesday that the ex-wife was separated from the accused in December 2018 after a marriage of almost 38 years.

A foster child (daughter) is alleged to be the accused’s other victim.

Also read: Pinetown murder, theft case delayed again

The court heard on Wednesday that the accused was against this child being “adopted because she doesn’t look like” one of the family, something the ex-wife understood was because the child is “of colour”.

The foster child, who was reportedly born around 2009, has testified in court.

Meanwhile, the son had allegedly initially confided in a close friend about the alleged rape and sexual assault incidents and had been afraid to speak up.

It is reported that the allegation with the foster child surfaced when the issue with the son was already being legally handled.

In May 2025, the accused was summoned to court where he was charged.

The matter is due to continue on Monday (June 8).

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