A man from Mamelodi has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court for raping his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter.
Image: AI / Sora
A man from Mamelodi has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court for raping his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter.
He was also handed five years' direct imprisonment for sexual assault, with the life sentence running concurrently with the five-year term.
The court ruled that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, noting that the accused had abused his position of trust as a guardian of the victim.
"The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence handed down to Mr X," said spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
She explained that the offences took place between 2022 and 2023 at the victim's home and were discovered on May 15, 2023, when the child confided in her parents.
Following a police investigation, Mr X was arrested, and the child received medical, psychological, and legal support at Mamelodi Thuthuzela Care Centre.
During the trial, Mr X pleaded not guilty, but the state presented compelling evidence, including testimony from the victim and her father, proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The magistrate found that he had abused his position of trust and rejected his legal team's plea for a reduced sentence.
"The NPA calls on all South Africans to unite against gender-based violence (GBV) and to create safe environments where the constitutional rights of children, particularly their right to dignity and safety, are fully protected," Mahanjana said.
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