RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The Rustenburg Regional Court handed down sentences in two separate cases of child sexual abuse last week.
In one case, a father was sentenced to 75 years imprisonment, while in the other case, a stepfather was handed a 30 year jail sentence. In the first case reported in March of 2010, a social worker alerted the police about the wellbeing of three children, who were in the care of their parents. The latter initially stayed in Pretoria, but relocated to Zeerust.
The children were taken for forensic assessments and it was determined that they were raped over a period between 1 July 2009 and 1 October 2009. The three children - a 7-year-old boy, 8-year-old girl and 13-year-old disabled girl - are all siblings and were raped by their then 41-year-old father. The father (now 61) was sentenced on Wednesday (15 November ) in the Rustenburg Regional Court after being found guilty on six charges of rape and sentenced to 75 years effective imprisonment.
In the second case reported in the early hours of 19 July 2017, in Sondela close to Boitekong, a nine-year-old girl reported to her aunt that her stepfather sexually abused her when under the influence of liquor.
Evidence heard in court indicated that the stepfather would wait until his wife goes to work. The aunt immediately reported the matter to the police in Boitekong. A medical examination confirmed that the victim was raped and the suspect was arrested.
The accused, aged 44, was found guilty by the Rustenburg Regional Court on Tuesday (14 November), and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
The Provincial Commissioner, applauded the Investigating Officers, Captain Karen Pretorius and Warrant Officer Cynthia Monchusi of Lehurutshe and Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units respectively, as well as all other role players including prosecution for their excellent collaborative efforts, which he said will send a stern warning that GBV offenders will be dealt with effectively.
