Northern Cape man gets life for raping grandmother who raised him

A 35-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mothibistad Regional Court after being convicted of raping his 72-year-old grandmother at their home in Kagung village, near Kuruman.

The incident occurred on September 12, 2020, while the elderly woman was taking a bath.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the victim had raised the accused from infancy.

"The accused. who was 29 years old at the time of the incident, was sitting in the living room after he had taken a refreshing herbal bath. His grandmother was also taking a bath in her bedroom. The accused testified that he was overwhelmed by a certain 'feeling', which he described as an insatiable need to have sex with his grandmother. Overcome by this 'feeling', the accused entered his grandmother’s bedroom, where he overpowered and raped her," said Senokoatsane.

He added that the grandmother, who uses a walking stick, managed to escape and fled to a neighbour’s house to seek help.

"The accused was arrested after the matter was reported to the police. The victim was examined by a doctor and was bleeding as a result of her injuries. She experienced pain and struggled to walk following the rape."

The case was initially struck off the roll in 2021 due to outstanding DNA results but was later re-enrolled. The Kuruman Thuthuzela Care Centre provided psychological support to the victim during this period.

Senokoatsane said State prosecutor Bernice Bronkhorst-Oor, in aggravation of sentence, argued that the accused had shown no remorse, had been dishonest during the trial, and posed a danger to society.

"During sentencing, the court found the accused to be a very poor witness and that his version of events was not reasonably possible to be true. The accused showed no substantial and compelling circumstances that permitted the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence." 

It also emerged that the accused had a prior rape conviction in 2015, for which he received a wholly suspended sentence as he was still a minor at the time.

"The court found the accused guilty as charged and he is now classified as a serial rapist. The accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with older persons. The court also ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. 

“In addition, the accused was kept in custody after bail was refused for another rape case. It is alleged that he raped his friend’s girlfriend after they all spent an evening together at a local tavern."

Senokoatsane noted that all cases of sexual violence violate the rights to dignity and privacy of victims.

"The successful prosecution of these cases provides some justice and closure to the victims and their families and removes violent criminals from our streets."