Sentenced for sex with 13-year-old

A consensual relationship between a teenager and her 29-year-old alleged boyfriend ended in him receiving a stiff prison sentence at the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court, on August 28.

Thembeni resident Soyisile Alfred Sibiya was found guilty of having consensual intercourse with a minor.

Sibiya was initially charged with raping the 13-year-old in 2012.

During the trial it emerged that Sibiya and the girl knew each other and that he had bought her clothes.

The court then heard how, in November 2012, the girl snuck out of her home and went to Sibiya’s house, where she stayed for two days until her mother found her.

They apparently had sex on November 25.

Magistrate Shoba Maharaj ruled that the intercourse was consensual as the girl had gone to Sibiya’s house of her own will.

She said Sibiya’s version that he was in a relationship with the girl was reasonable, taking into account her behaviour.

The girl’s mother testified that she knew Sibiya “was interested in” her daughter but disapproved because of the considerable age gap.

Sibiya will serve an eight year prison sentence, with half suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not found guilty of another sexual offence.

His name will be entered onto the national register for sex offenders and he is not permitted to work with children in the future.