The eMalahleni Regional Court sentenced a 46-year-old man for two counts of rape.
The accused admitted guilt for the offence and the court subsequently convicted him of raping his stepdaughter and her younger sister in 2022.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the stepfather who was convicted was left with his stepdaughter and her younger sister. The minor victim was running a bath for her sister when he pushed her over the bed, undressed her, and raped her.
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“It happened again in September last year when the stepfather fought with his wife, who locked herself in their bedroom. He then went to the children’s room and took her stepdaughter to the living room. He forced her to take off her clothes, pushed her over the couch and raped her. The wife walked in and found the shock of her life. The accused put on his clothes and went to the police to hand himself over,” reads a statement.
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In court, he admitted guilt to two counts of rape and the jury found him guilty. A victim impact statement by the victim’s mother, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Musa Mkhatshwa, was presented. In her statement, the mother said she felt betrayed by the accused’s action as he was in a position of trust to protect their daughter. She said she was disturbed by the ordeal and is still shocked by what she witnessed on the day of the incident.
The accused was sentenced to two life terms and was declared unfit to work with children in terms of the Children’s Act. The court ordered his name to be included in the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
