Man from eMbalenhle gets three life sentences for rape of stepdaughter
The stepfather was found guilty of raping the 12-year-old girl three times.
The Secunda Regional Court has on October 15 imposed three life sentences on a 40-year-old man who raped his 12-year-old stepdaughter at their eMbalenhle home in 2021.
The man raped the girl on three occasions, twice while the mom was away.
The first time she was raped, the stepfather called the girl into his bedroom under the pretence of looking for money to send with her to the shop. That day, he covered her mouth to muffle her screams, and afterwards, he threatened her not to tell.
The second incident happened when the man returned home from work. He asked where the girl’s older sister was, and once he established that she was not at home, he pulled the girl into the bedroom, pushed her onto the bed and raped her. He afterwards left the young girl to babysit his biological one-year-old daughter.
On the day of the third rape, the man, who was holding the baby in his arms, sent the girl into his bedroom to look for chips. The stepfather then put the baby down and locked the doors of the house. He forced himself on the 12-year-old and then instructed her not to tell her mother.
ALSO READ: Secunda’s Santa Shoebox project: 13 gift boxes still needed before Saturday
The mom arrived home and called for them to open the door. When the girl eventually opened the door, her mother noticed the child was wearing her (the mother’s) tights, which confirmed her suspicions that the man was doing something to the girl.
The girl initially stuck to the lie that she was merely searching for chips, but the mother took the girl aside, and that was when the child opened up.
The mother took the girl to the police station in eMbalenhle, and the stepfather was soon arrested.
The stepfather was found guilty on three counts of rape. His name will be included in the national register for sex offenders and the national child protection register.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Sergeant Palesa Tsoaelo from the Secunda Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit is the dedicated investigating officer who secured this sentence.
ALSO READ: Hawkers with permits to sell in eMbalenhle are upset about forceful removal
