A 38-year-old father was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for raping and assaulting his nine-year-old daughter in 2021.

The offences occurred in Roodepoort, and the case was heard at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court.

According to a statement shared by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, the matter came to light when the victim’s mother witnessed a disturbing scene. The father was sexually assaulting his daughter while they sat under a blanket on a sofa. He then quickly pulled up his pants, acted as if nothing had happened, and offered coffee.

The mother reported the incident to Roodepoort police, where investigations led by Sergeant Ditsi revealed that this wasn’t the first time he had touched the child inappropriately and exposed himself to her.

During the trial, the victim’s mother testified about the profound impact on her daughter’s well-being.

She described how the child now struggles to make friends, withdraws socially, performs poorly in school, suffers from low self-esteem, and walks with her head bowed – a heartbreaking testament to the trauma inflicted.

Regional Court Prosecutor Kelebogile Sibi highlighted the offence’s gravity, the child’s vulnerability, and the father’s betrayal of his legal and moral duty to protect her.

Magistrate Anneline Africa considered the accused’s authority as the child’s guardian. Applying proportionality, she departed from the prescribed life sentence, balancing punishment with its objectives. The accused received 20 years for rape and five years for sexual assault, running concurrently, for an effective 20 years.

“All sexual violence violates victims’ constitutional rights to dignity and bodily integrity. The NPA prosecutes these crimes with unrelenting determination, ensuring perpetrators face the full might of the law and victims receive justice,” the statement read.