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Uncle gets two life sentences for rape of 11-year old niece
The NPA said the 54-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madadeni Regional Court for the rape of his niece.
Yemen prisoner swap to start Thursday as peace hopes rise
Image: Marty Garbarini
A 54-year-old man from Madadeni in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal has been sentenced to two life terms for the rape of his niece between 2019 and 2020.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the girl, who was 11 at the time of the crime, and her family lived in a communal homestead together with other family members.
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SISTER CAUGHT UNCLE IN THE ACT
It was reported that the man raped her when no adults were around.
On the first occasion, in 2019, he raped her when she went to use the outside toilet. Her sister found them in the toilet and the child was not aware that she was raped.
When they told the mother about the incident, the uncle claimed that he was intoxicated. The family called the police.
UNCLE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES OF RAPE
After the second incident, in 2020, the victim was taken to Madadeni Hospital Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received psychosocial and medical assistance.
A doctor was able to confirm the rape during the examination, and he also advised that she had previously been raped due to the old scars.
In court, the uncle pleaded not guilty, claiming that the girl’s mother wanted him to leave the home. He claimed that she had instructed the child to incriminate him.
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VICTIM LEAVES A STATEMENT
However, a victim impact statement facilitated by court preparation officer Masande Mdiya supported the state’s case.
In the statement, the girl says that the incident left her with psychological, physical and emotional scars. She also felt the incidents created a rift among their family members.
Upon sentencing the man, the court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm. He was further deemed incompetent to work with children.
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The National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said, “The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. We encourage parents to be vigilant and report matters to the police. We commend the work done by the prosecution and SAPS.”
