The Sasolburg Regional Court in the Free State on Wednesday sentenced a father (37), to 24 years’ imprisonment for repeatedly raping his 11-year-old daughter.

According to the NPA’s regional spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, the man repeatedly raped his daughter between August 2020 and November 2021 at their home when her mother was absent.

“The father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, started raping the complainant when she 11 years old.”

Shuping said the mother realised that her daughter’s school performance had deteriorated and her behaviour at home had changed.

The daughter explained what her father was doing to her and the mother reported the incident.

According to Shuping, the man pleaded guilty but declined to take responsibility for the abuse, claiming he had been possessed by “demons”.

“The father admitted that he had been raping his daughter, but he blamed the incidents on demons and told the court demons possessed him. The medical examination of the daughter confirmed that she had been violated,” said Shuping.

The prosecutor argued for life imprisonment, but the defence lawyer pleaded for a shorter sentence because the man had shown remorse by admitting to his crime.

“Magistrate Phumzile Ngewu sentenced the accused to 24 years imprisonment.”

Ngewu also ordered that the accused’s name be included in the National Register for Sex offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.