A 61-year-old former government employee and deacon at the International Assemblies of God church has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the r*pe of his 10-year-old niece.
The horrific incident occurred in 2017 when the girl was staying with her aunt, the deacon’s wife. The man, taking advantage of the situation, s*xually assaulted the child during a move to a new home in Mamelodi East.
The victim, fearing repercussions, initially kept silent. It wasn’t until a year later that her aunt discovered the truth and reported the crime to the police.
Despite the man’s plea of innocence and accusations against his wife, overwhelming evidence, including testimony from the victim and medical experts, proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The court rejected his plea for a lenient sentence, citing his lack of remorse and the vulnerability of the young victim.
This severe punishment sends a strong message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated.
