THE Pongola Regional Court has sentenced a 50-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a 10-year-old girl in March, 2019 in the Ngome area near Vryheid.

The court heard the man had a relationship with the victim’s mother, and on the day of the rape incident he and the mother drank alcohol.

He stayed overnight and raped the girl while everyone was asleep.

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The victim informed her mother about the incident the next day and the matter was reported to the police.

The accused was arrested and pleaded not guilty.

In her evidence, the girl said the ordeal has affected her and she can no longer concentrate at school.

She was also scared of men and felt that she will never be able to trust another man.