An Eastern Cape man was sentenced for the rape of his girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter.
The 30-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor victim, pleaded not guilty to the rape charge in the KwaMaqoma (previously known as Fort Beaufort) Regional Court.
The incidents took place between October and November 2022, in KwaMaqoma.
The court heard that in October 2022, while the girl was living with her mother and younger brother, the mother’s boyfriend took advantage of the situation when her mother was intoxicated.
The teenager was raped multiple times by him over a period of time with attacks taking place at night and during the day when the victim’s mother was intoxicated.
The court heard the boyfriend threatened the girl with a knife during assaults and warned her not to tell anyone or else he would kill her.
She reported the abuse to her cousin who informed the police. This led to an investigation and his arrest.
State Prosecutor Advocate Tanduxolo Maxhaulana presented compelling arguments, citing the victim's testimony and corroborating evidence from witnesses, including the victim’s cousin and medical reports.
The court found the girl's account of the abuse to be credible and consistent, and the mother’s boyfriend was convicted based on the overwhelming evidence.
The court sentenced the accused to 20 years' imprisonment, emphasising the severity of the crime and the victim’s vulnerability.
The victim was acknowledged as a competent witness, and the case was processed with the necessary safeguards in place to ensure her well-being during the proceedings.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo welcomed the sentence.
“This case is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our children from harm, particularly from those who abuse positions of trust,” Madolo said.
“We hope that the sentence will bring some measure of justice to the victim, and send a strong message that sexual violence, particularly against children, will not be tolerated.”