DURBAN - A pensioner was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Empangeni Regional Court last week after he was convicted of the rape of his 15-year-old granddaughter.
The 63-year-old man from KwaMbonambi, northern KwaZulu-Natal, had raped the teen while she and her mother lived with their extended family at the man’s homestead.
National Prosecuting Authority KZN spokesperson Natasha Kara said the girl was the man’s maternal granddaughter.
“He had raped her four times during the period of 2018 to 2020. On the last occasion, he had just raped the girl and was straightening his clothes when a family member (the girl’s cousin) walked in on them. The cousin immediately reported this to the girl’s mother,” Kara said.
“The girl was questioned and she then told her mother that her grandfather had raped her before as well. The matter was reported to the police and the child was taken for a medical examination. This medical evidence was presented in court as part of the State’s case.”
Kara said in aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Sharon Bux presented the court with Victim Impact Statements compiled by the girl and her mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Seneliso Sibanda. The girl said that the incident had left her with no self-esteem and that she felt dirty and worthless. Her mother said in her statement, that her father had betrayed their trust and she could not believe that her father would rape her child. He was meant to protect and care for them.
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