Oudtshoorn man gets life for raping, impregnating minor daughter

THE Oudtshoorn Regional Court has sentenced a 59-year-old man to an effective life sentence and 20 years’ direct imprisonment for repeatedly raping and impregnating his minor daughter.

- THEOLIN TEMBO

The man was convicted of sexual violation of his 13-year-old daughter, her repeated rapes over two years and incest. His victim is his own child, born after he raped her mother when she was 16 years old. The victim’s mother testified in aggravation of sentence that the man raped her when she was 16 years old. The man was the husband of the victim's mother's aunt.

The man was arrested for the rape, prosecuted, and convicted, but was acquitted on appeal of his case at the high court.

Oudtshoorn Regional Court Prosecutor, Hyron Goulding, led evidence that the 13-year-old victim grew up staying with her mother and stepfather. She moved out and stayed with her father and his wife when she turned 13, visiting her mother on weekends.

This move came about after the victims mother and the rapist were approached by their pastor and were requested to make peace. At this reconciliation discussion, the man apologised to the victim’s mother for raping her.