A 45-YEAR-OLD man was convicted of raping his daughter from 2020 to 2022, starting when she was 10 years old, as well as sexually assaulting his niece.

He was handed a life sentence for the traumatic crimes by the Empangeni Regional Court.

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The court heard that the father instructed the victim to undress in his room, after which he raped her, threatening to kill her if she reported the assault.

The victim’s cousin became suspicious and followed her to the father’s bedroom, knocking on the door and saying that her granny was calling her.

When the door was opened, the cousin noticed the victim’s clothes were crumpled. She reported the matter to her mother who spoke to the girl and discovered the truth.

They subsequently learned about the sexual assault of a second victim – his niece who was assaulted in 2022 – with the police alerted to the crimes.

Detective Sergeant NZ Mnguni of Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units took over the case, with both girls taken to Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical and psychosocial assistance.

Prosecutor Edwina du Plessis led the evidence of six witnesses, including the victims, the witnesses, and the medical doctor who examined both victims.

The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and eight years’ imprisonment for sexual assault, running concurrently.

KZN Division NPA regional spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, welcomed the sentence and commended the work done by the Thuthuzela Care Centre network.

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