Man sentenced to life for raping six-year-old neighbour

A 33-year-old man from Pretoria has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Nigel Magistrate’s Court for the rape of a six-year-old girl. 

The man, from Duduza, pleaded guilty to the rape of his neighbour’s daughter. 

The rapist is not named to protect the identity of the minor child and to prevent secondary trauma. 

The court heard on February 17, 2024, that the convicted rapist hosted a party at his home, and during the party, the little girl, who was also present, went to the toilet in the yard.  

The party host entered the toilet and raped the young girl. Once done, both the rapist and his victim left the toilet and returned to the party. 

Later that evening, the mother of the girl was getting her ready for bed when she told her mother that her vagina was sore and she could not put on her underwear. The mother checked the child’s body and saw what looked like white residue on her vagina. She also noted that the child’s vagina was swollen. 

The mother asked her daughter what had happened, and she disclosed what the man had done to her. The following day, the matter was reported to the police and the neighbour was arrested at his place of residence. 

In his guilty plea, he admitted to committing the rape and said he understood he was linked to the crime through DNA. 

During his sentencing, through his legal counsel, he asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence, arguing he was a first-time offender and that he had three minor children to care for. He further added that he had been in custody for over a year and had shown remorse by pleading guilty. 

State Prosecutor Phumlani Nkalanga argued that the man is convicted of a serious offence and this crime has become a pandemic in South Africa. 

Nkalanga submitted that the child was left traumatised and hurt by someone in a position of trust and was supposed to protect her. 

During the victim impact statement delivered to the court, the young girl’s mother expressed how this heinous crime impacted her child and how emotionally she is traumatised and experiences nightmares. She further explained how the family has been affected by this and how they have had to relocate after the crime. 

The court subsequently sentenced the man to life imprisonment and further ordered his name be entered into the Register of Sexual Offenders. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. 

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, lauded the State Prosecutor. 

“This sentence sends a clear message: the NPA prioritises GBV cases, especially those targeting vulnerable children, and will pursue justice relentlessly,” she said. 

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, said it welcomed the sentence and commended the vigilance of the mother whose swift action led to the arrest of the rapist.

The NPA’s Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) ensure critical psychosocial support for the victim, reflecting its victim-centric approach.

The NPA urges families and communities to remain vigilant, report suspected abuse promptly, and support survivors through TCCs, which offer medical, psychological, and legal assistance. 

“This case highlights the critical role of parents in recognising signs of abuse and acting decisively. The NPA calls on South Africans to unite against GBV, fostering safe environments where children’s constitutional rights to dignity and safety are upheld, and perpetrators face the full might of the law,” Mahanjana said. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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