POLOKWANE: The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the two life sentences handed down by the Naphuno Regional Court in Tzaneen yesterday, Tuesday 29 November 2022, against a 45-year-old man after he was found guilty of raping his 11-year-old step-daughter.

The court heard that the victim’s mother received information that her child was raped twice by her husband. The first incident happened on 10 March 2017 after the victim was called by her stepfather to his room while preparing to attend school.

The accused unexpectedly raped the minor child and gave her money to keep her silence. Another incident occurred at Mhangwani village in Maake policing area on 21 March 2017 when she was called to his room and later raped.

Afterwards, the victim informed her neighbours who alerted her mother about the incident and it was then reported at the local police station.

On 09 October 2017 the accused was arrested after a meticulous investigation in which the investigation officer ensured that the accused is kept in police custody until his sentencing yesterday.

“This sentences will send a clear message to perpetrators of Gender Based Violence that the police will be relentless when investigating such cases” said General Hadebe.

Source: South African Police Service