The Nkandla Regional Court sentenced a 34-year-old man to life in prison for the rape of an eight-year-old child in the Nkandla area in December 2020.
The man was well-known to the child’s family, and they had trust in him. The child lived with her mother, grandmother, and younger cousin at her property. She was babysitting her cousin on the day of the incident when the man entered the house and raped her.
When another relative walked in on them, the man fled. The relative, on the other hand, did not immediately report what he had seen; the daughter later recounted the incident to her mother. The man was apprehended as the child recognised him.
The testimony of the child and her mother, who was the first report, was led by Regional Court Prosecutor Nozipho Mthethwa. The state also presented evidence of the relative who had witnessed the incident.
He told the cops that he was terrified of the accused and thus did not report the incident to them. The state also provided a Victim Impact Statement, which was written by the child’s mother and assisted by Court Preparation Officer Amanda Pretty Nxumalo.
According to the woman’s account, her child was a joyful and carefree child who played with the other kids before the incident. She is now forgetful, easily irritated, and wants to be alone.
The mother went on to say that her family was opposed to her filing a rape case because the man (the accused) was well-known to them. She claims that as a result, she and her children were kicked out from their home and are now living in a mud hut.
The man received the appropriate sentence, and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenders. He was also found unfit to own a firearm.
