The Nelspruit Regional Court convicted and sentenced a 38-year-old father to 22 years’ imprisonment for raping and impregnating his daughter.
The incident took place in March 2019.

According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the 17-year-old victim was invited to her grandparent’s place in Mahushu, where they resided with her biological father, under false pretences to perform rituals.

“On her arrival, her father was not home, but she found her grandmother who contacted him to return. The man never brought anything for the rituals. The victim demanded to go back home as it was already late and the father offered to accompany her, knowing very well that he had orchestrated an evil plan against his own daughter. At around 22:00 along the way, next to the Mahushu graveside, the victim was instructed at gunpoint to undress, and he raped her. He also warned her not to tell anyone about the ordeal,” he said.

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Mohala said that in the same year in April, the victim found out she was pregnant, and only managed to break her silence in August.

“The man was arrested in August 2019 after the daughter had opened a rape case. He was charged accordingly and appeared in court, where bail was successfully opposed by the state. The accused remained in custody throughout the trial until he was sentenced in the Nelspruit Regional Court on August 11.”

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The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, welcomed the sentence and said she hoped it would serve as a deterrent to those who treat their children ruthlessly without any consequences.