Life sentence for man who raped daughter

Man (44) sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his daughter

2 hours ago

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

The Nongoma Regional Court last week convicted and sentenced a man (44) to life imprisonment for the rape of his daughter (17) in July 2025.

Evidence presented in court revealed that about a week before the offence, the victim had gone to visit her boyfriend at night.

The following morning, her father, who cannot be named to protect the girl’s identity, realised she was not at home when he went to wake her.

While outside, he saw his daughter approaching the house with a boy. When he questioned her about the boy, she told him he was her boyfriend.

A week later, the girl’s father confronted the victim, telling her he was angry with her, before raping her. He raped her again a few hours later.

A few days after the crime, the victim’s friend noticed her crying at school and alerted the school principal.

A social worker was subsequently notified, and the victim disclosed that her father had raped her.

The matter was reported to the police, and the man was arrested later that day.

In her victim impact statement, the girl expressed her distress at being harmed by the very person who was supposed to protect her.

She also asked the court to impose a severe sentence to protect her younger sibling from their father.

The court sentenced the man to life imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

The court further ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA hopes the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who perpetrate sexual violence against children.

“A parent bears a fundamental responsibility to protect and care for a child. In this case, the accused grossly abused that position of trust and violated the safety and dignity of his own daughter,” she said.

“The NPA remains committed to the vigorous prosecution of sexual offences, particularly those committed against children and other vulnerable persons.

“Working with partners in the criminal justice system, the NPA will continue to pursue perpetrators of gender-based violence, and ensure prosecutors place the interests and protection of victims at the centre of the prosecution process,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

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