Court sentences stepfather to four life terms for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter

The vigilance of a Northern Cape mother led to the arrest, conviction, and sentencing after she uncovered her daughter’s pregnancy with her stepfather. 

The 37-year-old man was sentenced to four life terms of imprisonment in the Fraserburg Regional Court for the repeated rape of his then 10-year-old stepdaughter on Thursday, September 4, 2025. 

He was convicted on four charges of rape of a minor. 

The court heard that in 2020, the girl’s mother noticed she was gaining weight and took her to the clinic, where it was confirmed that she was pregnant. 

The child then disclosed the abuse, which led to the arrest of her stepfather. 

The investigation revealed that between 2017 and 2020, the man married the girl’s mother and began raping her when they started living together. He would wait until everyone in the house was asleep, rape her, and then threaten her to remain silent. The fearful girl abided as she feared her stepfather. 

The trial has been delayed for almost five years due to the man continuing to change attorneys, which was seen as a tactic by the court. 

He denied the charges against him and claimed the girl had consented from the age of 12. The court dismissed this version. 

State Prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp highlighted the stepfather’s abuse of trust and detailed the victim’s severe and lasting trauma. 

The prosecution urged life sentences, an unfit-to-work-with-children status, a firearm prohibition, and entry into the National Register for Sex Offenders. 

The court, finding no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate, imposed life imprisonment on each count, totalling four life terms, and issued the requested orders, emphasising the devastating impact on the victim and her family.

The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mojalefa Senokoatsane, welcomed the sentence imposed. 

“The NPA remains steadfast in combating gender-based violence and child abuse, crediting the relentless efforts of prosecutors, investigators, and court officers. Each conviction defends children’s dignity and safety, reflecting the NPA’s ongoing commitment to hold predators accountable,” Senokoatsane said. 

Ilitha Labantu, an anti-gender-based violence (GBV) organisation, has condemned the matter, and its spokesperson, Siyabulela Monakali, welcomed the sentence and said this matter highlights the grave realities that many children face in their own homes, where perpetrators exploit positions of trust and authority to commit unspeakable acts of violence. 

“The silence of victims, often driven by fear, shame, and threats, underscores the urgent need for society to create safer environments where children can speak out and be heard.

Ilitha Labantu calls upon all sectors of society, families, schools, communities, civil society, government, and the justice system to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding children from abuse. While the life sentences handed down represent an important step towards justice, we are reminded that countless other children continue to suffer in silence, and our collective responsibility is to break this cycle of violence,” he said. 

The mother’s vigilance was also lauded. 

“We commend the bravery of the young survivor and her mother, whose vigilance ensured that the abuse was exposed. We further acknowledge the role of the justice system in delivering a strong sentence that sends a clear message: crimes of this nature will not be tolerated,” Monakali said. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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