A 38-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a young girl in the Nkonka Settlement in Umzinto nearly three years ago.
He was sentenced in the Scottburgh Regional Court last Friday, and he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
At the time of the incident, the complainant was 12 years old and lived near the rapist. They also knew each other.
On November 12, 2022, he asked the child to fetch water for him from a nearby river and that he would pay her R20 in return.
“When she returned with the bucket of water, he pulled her into his room and shut the door, preventing her from leaving,” explained Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson.
“He tied her hands to the bed and raped her. He threatened to kill her family members if she reported the incident to anyone. Thereafter, he let her go home, where she reported the incident to her grandmother and uncle.”
The man was subsequently arrested when the complainant pointed him out.
In the state’s case, Thanusha Govender led the testimonies of the complainant, her grandmother and her uncle.
“In aggravation of sentence, Govender mentioned that the accused’s actions have had life-altering consequences on the complainant, both emotionally and psychologically,” added Ramkisson-Kara.
His name will also be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and the National Child Protection Register.
The NPA hopes that sentences of this nature demonstrate its commitment to the fight against sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
(The rapist has not been named to protect the identity of the complainant)
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