NELSPRUIT - A 38-year-old father is expected to spend the next 22 years behind bars for raping and impregnating his 17-year-old biological daughter at Mahushu outside Hazyview in March 2019.

The victim was invited to her grandparent's place where they resided with her biological father, under false pretence to perform rituals.

On her arrival, her father was not home, but her grandmother contacted him and on his arrival, this man never brought anything for the rituals. The victim then demanded to go back home as it was already late. He then offered to accompany her home, knowing very well that he had orchestrated an evil plan against his own daughter. At around 22h00 along the way, next to Mahushu graveside, the victim was instructed at gunpoint by this evil man to undress then he raped her. He further warned her not to tell anyone about the ordeal.

A month later (in April 2019) the victim found out that she was pregnant, but even then she never opened up to anyone. In August 2019 she finally broke her silence about what transpired to her on that dreadful night.

The matter was then brought to the attention of the police and a rape case was opened. The team of members from Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) were assigned to investigate the case. These experts later arrested the suspect on 30 August 2019. He was then charged accordingly. He appeared in court where bail was successfully opposed by the state. The accused remained in custody throughout the trial until he was sentenced at the Nelspruit Regional Court on 11 August 2022.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the sentence and appreciated the work done by the team of Detectives, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary. "We hope that the sentence will serve as a deterrence to those who think they can ruthlessly treat their children without any consequences" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service