A 54-year-old man from Madadeni, KwaZulu-Natal, was convicted of raping his niece and sentenced to two life sentences in prison.
In 2019 and 2020, the accused, who cannot be named to protect his niece’s identity, repeatedly raped the 11-year-old youngster.
Tuesday during sentence at the Madadeni regional court, the court ruled that the defendant was unsuitable to carry a handgun or work with minors.
The rapes occurred when no other family members were present. In the first occurrence, the accused was caught in the act by the victim’s sister while the youngster was using the restroom outside.
The sister notified the mother, and the accused apologized, explaining that he had been drinking. In 2020, he pressed himself onto the youngster once more. This time, the rape occurred in the chamber of the accused.
The child informed her sibling, who then informed their mother. The girl was sent to the Thuthuzela Care Centre at the Madadeni Hospital, where she was examined and provided with social and medical aid.
The doctor confirmed during the examination that she had been raped. Based on the child’s existing wounds, the doctor also determined that the child had been sexually abused previously.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the region, stated, “In court, the uncle pleaded not guilty, claiming that the girl’s mother had instructed her to implicate him because she wanted him to leave the homestead.”
The prosecutor, Khethiwe Kunene, directed the testimony of the girl, her siblings, their mother, and the physician. A victim impact statement bolstered the prosecution’s case.
In a statement, court preparation officer Masande Mdiya said, “The experience left her with psychological, physical, and emotional scars. Additionally, it has generated discord among her family members.
“As a result of the stigma associated with being a rape victim, she feels unworthy and lacks confidence among her peers.”
»Uncle sentenced to two life terms for molesting a minor niece«