Brilliant local detectives secure conviction of rapist stepfather
Both girls had been raped repeatedly from the age of about seven, but only spoke out about it years later.
The West Rand Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit has received an award for being the best detective group on the West Rand, and continues to curb crimes against women and children.
One success story stands out above all others – a case in which a man was convicted of repeatedly raping his two stepdaughters.
The team began by investigating a rape case which was opened in September 2013, after two young girls reported their stepfather to their school’s social worker. The social worker contacted a member of the FCS Unit and lodged a complaint.
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Members of the FCS then went to the school, where they interviewed the girls. Their statements were taken and soon after, the stepfather was arrested. He confessed to his crimes to an officer of the FCS Unit shortly after. He was then jailed, but was later granted bail.
The investigation continued, with the FCS team gathering medical evidence and taking written statements from the girls.
The accused appeared in the Palm Ridge High Court several times. Despite denying that he’d had sexual intercourse with his stepdaughters, he was found guilty on all charges in February, and remanded in custody to await sentencing. He was sentenced on Monday, 3 July, having been found guilty on seven counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.
It came to light during the case that the girls had been raped since they were about 7 years old, with the older girl being the first victim. Both children underwent medical examinations that revealed vaginal trauma and proved that they had both been penetrated on various occasions.
In letters to her husband while he was in prison, the mother of the girls said she wanted to help him with his problem (assuming he had one) and that she still loved him.
Read more: Huge success as rapists are sentenced
Warrant Officer Marie Strooh, the investigating officer assigned to the case, said, “Because the man had not beaten the girls and was the primary caretaker of the household, often showing kindness and caring towards them, the girls didn’t necessarily know that what he had done was wrong. It was only when a schoolmate told them she’d been thought a similar experience that they realised what was happening to them wasn’t normal.”
After giving his verdict, Judge Cassim Moosa said the man had not shown any remorse whatsoever, and stood there emotionless while he spoke.
Judge Moosa also considered the impact of the crimes as evidence as the girls’ lives had clearly been affected. They both had sexual experiences before they were teens and had become hardened because of the incidents.
The older daughter is now undergoing trauma counselling, but her younger sister declined it.
“She has become hardened and strong. She said she just wants to go on with her life now that the case is over,” said Strooh.
Child abuse cases constitute a highly specialised field of expertise, requiring the highest level of sensitivity, care and confidence in making diagnoses and the subsequent decisions in order to serve the best interests of the child.
The Teddy Bear Clinic for abused children, which is also based in Krugersdorp, played a major role in helping the girls with their statements and finding enough evidence to build a strong case against their stepfather. The clinic’s staff help to minimise the harm done to a child (whether physically or emotionally) and prevent secondary victimisation of children and their families when entering the child protection system by providing expertise, information, education and support to make their journey to healing a meaningful one.
The stepfather has been granted leave to appeal his sentences and is being held in the Johannesburg Prison awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court of Appeal. Both Judge Moosa and the State Advocate have indicated that they doubt that any judge will consider the appeal because of the number of life sentences that were handed down.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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