Father gets 25 years for raping daughter

A 40-YEAR-old father has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was convicted of raping his 15-year-old biological daughter. He appeared in the Upington Regional Court.

The accused was at home on January 2 with his daughter when he told her friend who was visiting to leave.

Northern Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the father accused his daughter of having relationships with other boys.

“He demanded to examine her private parts and threatened her with a knife and threw her on the bed when she refused. He also threatened to strangle her and proceeded to rape her.”

He stated that the girl reported the incident to her mother despite threats from the accused that he would kill her if she told anyone about what had happened.

“The matter was reported to the police who arrested the accused on the same day. The prosecution successfully opposed bail and the accused was remanded in custody.”

He added that the court preparation officer, Lea Nkathane, assisted the girl to write a victim impact statement concerning the emotional, physical as well as financial effects the crime had on her life.

"During her testimony, the mother blamed herself for not picking up on any warning signs that the accused would do something so unforgiving and utterly reprehensible.“

Senokoatsane stated that the State prosecutor, Mzukisi Twani, encouraged the court to consider the young age of the complainant.

“The father not only raped his daughter but also murdered her soul as she was no longer the joyful, vibrant young girl she was before the incident.

“The NPA trusts the successful prosecutions of these GBVF cases will provide some justice and closure to the victims and their families where violent criminals are removed from our streets,” he added.