A 64-year-old man from Mamelodi has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court for the repeated rape of his daughter, starting when she was 9 years old in 2010 and continuing until she was 19 in 2020. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence, emphasizing its commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa.
The court also declared the man unfit to work with children or possess a firearm, ordered his name added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders, and directed that his two granddaughters be referred to the children’s court for investigation. The abuse occurred during weekends and school holidays when the victim visited her father, who was not married to her mother but shared custody of the child.
According to NPA Regional Spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana, the father manipulated his daughter before the abuse began, telling her it was “normal in households” and warning her not to inform her mother due to her heart condition. In 2018, when the victim was 16, a condom broke during one of the assaults. The father instructed her to track her menstrual cycle and, upon learning she was pregnant, gave her 1,500 rand ($82) to terminate the pregnancy. The abuse continued thereafter.
The case came to light in 2021 when the victim, then 19, confided in her boyfriend, believing the abuse was normal. The boyfriend informed the victim’s mother, who confronted her daughter, leading to the victim reporting the abuse to the Mamelodi East police station on January 16, 2021. The father was arrested the same day.
Despite pleading not guilty, the father was convicted based on compelling evidence presented by Regional Court Prosecutor Anton Burger. During sentencing, the father requested leniency, citing his role as a breadwinner for his wife, three other children, and two granddaughters. Burger opposed this, arguing, “The father showed no remorse, planned the sexual abuse, and betrayed his duty to protect his daughter.” He further noted the father’s instruction to terminate the pregnancy and his manipulation of the victim to believe the abuse was normal.
In a Victim Impact Statement facilitated by court preparation officer Kgomotso Lodi, the victim stated, “I cannot recall life without rape, I lost my teenage years, and I now suffer from depression and low self-esteem.”
Acting Regional Court Magistrate Pierre Wessels, in delivering the sentence, declared, “Violence against women and children is a pandemic in this country, and it is the duty of the courts to combat such offences.” He found no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the life imprisonment sentence, citing the father’s lack of remorse.
Mahanjana stated, “The NPA welcomes this sentence and reaffirms its dedication to eradicating GBV, a pervasive crisis in South Africa, by supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators face severe consequences.” She added, “This case exemplifies our victim-centered approach and our resolve to foster safe environments where children’s rights to dignity and safety are upheld.”
The NPA, alongside justice partners, called on communities to unite against GBV, urging the public to report abuse to break the silence and protect future generations.