SECUNDA – An eMbalenhle-man who sexually assaulted his daughter’s young friends when they came over to play, will effectively serve 20 years in prison.
Secunda Regional Magistrate, Mr Graham Cupido, sentenced the culprit to prison on Friday, 28 May.
The man was earlier found guilty of raping three of his victims with objects or his finger.
He was also found guilty of sexual assault for indecently touching another victim and exposing himself to a fifth victim.
The girls were 10 and 11 years old when the assaults occurred in 2017.
Mr Cupido in his sentencing remarks said the effect that rape has on young victims is often under emphasised.
For them, being raped is like a death sentence from which they never recover.
“These kids are young and considered as the vulnerable in society. They need to be protected.
“They are supposed to enjoy themselves and play outside, not to look for danger.”
The magistrate said the man followed a pattern in his crimes.
“You used your authority over them. You did this in front of your own daughter.
“Then you threatened to hurt or kill them if they tell. You were nearly five times their age and were like a father to them.”
Mr Cupido said the evidence led him to believe that these five girls were not the man’s only victims.
“I shudder to think how many other girls were abused by you.”
After taking several mitigating factors into account such as no penal penetration and no physical violence inflicted, Mr Cupido delivered the sentences.
The man was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each of the three rape charges, five years imprisonment on the sexual assault and another three years for exposing himself to a child.
The latter two sentences, as well as one of the rape charges, will run concurrently with the first count of rape.
Ms Phumzile Nkosi prosecuted and Sgt Hezekiel Malapela from the police’s unit dealing with family violence, child protection and sexual offences, (FCS) was the investigating officer.
In another case of Sgt Malapela, a 57-year-old man was found guilty of raping a seven-year-old girl back in 2012 and 2013.
Magistrate Graham Cupido sentenced Mack Matshidiso Thulo on 27 May to 22 years’ imprisonment.
Ms Nkosi was also the prosecutor in this case.
