Hendrick Banda (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, Banda was a trusted family friend and also a tavern owner in the area.

It is said that Banda 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 Banda’s arrest in January 2021.

Investigations led by Roodepoort police detective Sergeant Ditsi revealed that Banda 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 Sibi, delivered a powerful argument, scathing the gravity of the offence, the vulnerability of rape victims and Banda’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 Banda’s actions, the degree of violence used, and the profound harm caused to the vulnerable victim. The court also noted Banda’s exploitation of the victim’s mother and his pretence of being a trusted figure.