Father sentenced to life for abuse of children, child pornography
He was arrested after one of the children confided in a family member and the matter was reported to the police.
The 41-year-old father who pleaded guilty to 426 charges related to rape and child pornography in February, was sentenced to two life terms and 80 years’ imprisonment at a High Court sitting at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on June 30.
The father committed these offences against his two stepsons and his daughter between 2012 and 2021.
He was arrested after one of the children confided in a family member and the matter was reported to the police.
The father received two life terms for two counts of rape, 20 years for two counts of using a child for child pornography, three counts of the creation or production of child pornography (six years), 407 counts of possession of child pornography (six years all counts taken as one for purposes of sentence), two counts of attempted compelled rape and two counts of sexual assault (12 years).
The sentences will run concurrently.
According to Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, at the time of the incidences, the boys were aged between six and 14 and the daughter was seven months old. The abuse continued until she was eight.
“These offences took place in their home when the mother of the children was at work and the children were left in his care.”
Also Read: Benoni father pleads guilty to 426 counts related to abuse of children, child pornography
According to Mahanjana, when at work the father would often ask the minor boys to take pictures of their sister’s private parts and send these to him for his pleasure.
In his plea statement, he admitted to raping the boys and compelling them to rape their sister or perform sexual acts on each other while he watched or he would make them watch while he performed sexual acts on one of them.
“The father also pleaded guilty to attempting to rape his minor daughter on a few occasions, but he said he failed to do so,” said Mahanjana.
The names of the children and the father are being withheld to protect the children.
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