Ermelo Court sentence a 41-year-old to life for raping his teen daughter’s friend
Monica Nyuswa said the teen stated that she suffered a severe depressive episode and even tried to commit suicide.
The Ermelo Regional Court sentenced a 41-year-old man to life imprisonment on Monday, August 4 for the rape of his daughter’s friend in 2024. The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently convicted.
His daughter and the victim were both 16 years old when the incident occurred on March 25, 2024.
According to the provincial spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, Monica Nyuswa, the victim visited the man’s daughter and had a sleepover at his house.
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In the evening the victim and her friend went to a local pub, where they consumed alcohol and were later joined by the accused.
“The friend became intoxicated and the convict took them home. When they arrived at his home, they fell asleep on the couches. During the night the convict took the victim to his bedroom and raped her. His daughter witnessed her father taking the victim and saw her in his bed,” said Nyuswa.
The victim reported the rape at the Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received medical and psychological support and legal assistance.
In aggravation of the sentence, State Prosecutor Chané Rothman handed in two victim impact statements facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Faith Masingo, compiled by the victim and the convict’s daughter.
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Nyuswa said the victim stated that she suffered a severe depressive episode and even tried to commit suicide. The man’s daughter blamed herself and wished that it had happened to her, not her best friend.
Rothman argued that the accused was in a position of trust as the victim’s parents permitted her to visit and sleep over, stating that the accused was supposed to reprimand the victim and her friend about underage drinking, and that his actions were despicable.
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Further to that, Rothman pointed out the prevalence of sexual offences in the court’s jurisdiction, and that women and children need to be protected.
“The court found no compelling or substantial circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life,” Nyuswa said.
The court declared the convict unsuitable to work with children and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
