Brother jailed after raping sister, fathering child

A 32-YEAR-OLD man from Garies in the Northern Cape has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for repeatedly raping his younger sister, a harrowing case that highlights the devastating reality of gender-based violence within families.

Provincial police spokesperson Captain Ivan Magerman said that the abuse, which began in 2020, saw the 22-year-old victim endure multiple sexual assaults at the hands of her own brother. He silenced her with threats after each attack.

When the victim fell pregnant in 2021, she reportedly concealed the identity of the father. The cycle of abuse continued until February 2024, when she was raped again, prompting police to arrest the accused.

However, the case was initially struck off the court roll in June 2024 while awaiting DNA results, and the accused was released. Not long after, he attacked and raped his sister again. This led to a second case being opened against him, and he was subsequently arrested again. 

The case moved forward and DNA results eventually confirmed the unthinkable: the brother was the father of the victim’s child. 

The Garies Regional Court this week handed down a 20-year prison sentence. His name will also be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The conviction follows dedicated investigative work by Constable Nqabisa Sishuba and strong collaboration between the police and the Public Prosecutor, Basil Kock.

The district commissioner of Namakwa, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, praised the outcome as a reminder of the police’s continued commitment to tackling gender-based violence and femicide across the Northern Cape.