A man (39) from Durban Deep has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court for the repeated rape of a nine-year-old girl.

According to a statement sent to the Roodepoort Record by National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, the man was a trusted family friend and a tavern owner in the area.

It is said that he exploited his relationship with the victim’s mother, who struggled with alcohol abuse, to commit these heinous crimes. The abuse came to light when an elder overheard the victim disclosing the assaults while playing with friends, leading to his arrest in January 2021.

Investigations led by a Roodepoort police detective revealed that the man lured the victim to his room under the false pretence of needing her to read to him, claiming he could not read. He then repeatedly raped her, instructing her to remain silent and promising her money.

“The state called the victim’s foster mother, who testified that the child now suffers from severe emotional, physical and psychological trauma. She struggles with incontinence, requiring nappies, and faces ongoing challenges, including anxiety, aggression, low self-esteem and poor academic performance. These impacts were highlighted during sentencing,” Mjonondwane’s statement read.

The regional court prosecutor, Kelebogile Sibisi, delivered a powerful argument, scathing the gravity of the offence, the vulnerability of rape victims and the man’s betrayal of trust, who abused his position of authority and the principle of Ubuntu.

“The prosecutor underscored the permanent scars inflicted on the victim and the broader societal outcry against such crimes, which deprive children of their constitutional rights to safety and freedom,” continued the statement.

Magistrate Anneline Africa considered the extreme cruelty and manipulative nature of the man’s actions, the degree of violence used, and the profound harm caused to the vulnerable victim. The court also noted his exploitation of the victim’s mother and his pretence of being a trusted figure.

• The man has not been named to protect the child’s identity.

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