KWAMHLANGA — The KwaMhlanga Regional Court has sentenced a 70-year-old pensioner to life imprisonment for the rape of his nine-year-old great-grandchild, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) describing the judgment as a significant step in the fight against gender-based violence and crimes against children.
The incident took place in August 2020 at the KwaMhlanga residence where both the accused and the victim lived.
The identity of the victim is being withheld to protect her privacy.
According to court proceedings, on 10 August 2020, the accused dropped the victim off at her paternal family's home while he accompanied his wife to a ceremony in KwaVezubuhle.
Late that evening, he returned to collect the child. Upon arriving back at their shared home, the victim went to sleep on the floor, which was her usual spot in the great-grandfather’s room.
While she was asleep, the accused picked her up, placed her on the bed, and assaulted her. Following the attack, he threatened to beat the child if she spoke to anyone about what had occurred.
According to evidence presented in court, the child disclosed the abuse to her mother in September 2020 after watching a television programme about rape.
The matter was subsequently reported to authorities, and the victim received medical treatment and psychosocial support. During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations, claiming the victim’s grandmother had fabricated the allegations against him.
State Prosecutor Bianca Harmse led evidence from the child, whose testimony was supported by that of her grandmother and medical evidence contained in a J88 report.
The court found the state’s evidence credible and rejected the accused’s version of events.
In arguing for the maximum sentence, Prosecutor Harmse told the court that the accused had abused a position of trust and caused lasting harm to the child.
Harmse noted that the trauma would force the young girl to continuously relive the ordeal, underlining the absolute gravity of the offence.
The court found no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences. In addition to the life sentence, the court: Declared the pensioner unfit to possess a firearm; Declared him unsuitable to work with children; and Ordered his name to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
In a statement following the sentencing, the NPA reaffirmed its commitment to aggressively prosecuting crimes against vulnerable members of society, stating that it will "continue its fight against the scourge of abuse against women and children in our communities."
