Investigating officer, Sergeant Glenda Mathebula of Tzaneen FCS Unit
The Tzaneen Regional Court on Monday sentenced a 38 year-old man to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping his 11 year-old niece.
The man committed the act between September 2021 and February 2022 at Marinoni village.It emerged during the trial that the victim disclosed the ordeal to her 20-year-old sister who reported the incident to their father.
The father turned a blind eye to the incident which led to the sister attempting to report the matter to the Police where the convict threatened to kill both the victim and the sister. It was further revealed that the victim reported to her sister about the persistent ordeal at the hands of the convict upon which her sister advised her to report the ordeal to her teacher.
Police were then notified, and a case of rape was registered and then transferred to the Family, Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.
The investigating officer Sergeant Glenda Mathebula commenced with investigations, and the suspect was apprehended. Bail was successfully opposed until the accused was convicted and sentenced.
“We hope that this verdict brings some measure of justice and closure to the young survivor and those affected. We commend the bravery and resilience of the young survivor, who has shown incredible strength in the face of unimaginable trauma. We also applaud the dedication and professionalism of our detectives, prosecutors, and other officials who worked tirelessly to bring this perpetrator to justice,” said the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
Meanwhile, the MEC responsible for Social Development, Florence Radzilani has welcomed the life imprisonment handed down against the rapist.
“It is deeply concerning to hear about such a heinous crime committed against a child. Protecting children from such perpetrators is paramount and it is essential to have strict measures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring,” said Radzilani.
She added that families have a vital role to play in safeguarding their children and should not tolerate any form of abuse especially when it involved a family member.
Welcoming the sentence, the MEC Radzilana expressed contentment that life imprisonment was appropriate and congruent with the crime committed. She called on society to create a safe environment where children feel comfortable reporting any incidents of abuse without fear. “Education and awareness about child protection should be promoted to prevent such tragic incidents from happening in the future,” said Radzilani.