This week the Nquthu Regional Court in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) sentenced a 38-year-old man to a term of life imprisonment for the rape of his biological daughter between June 2018 and April 2021, in the Emabalane area of Nquthu.
The complainant’s parents were in a love relationship however they did not live together. Since the daughter lived with her mother, her father occasionally called her to his house under the guise of her helping him with household chores such as fetching water or laundry, said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“He used these times as an opportunity to rape her, for almost a three-year period. He threatened to kill her if she told anyone about what he was doing. The incident eventually came to light, when the complainant’s mother noticed that the complainant was losing weight. She asked her what the matter was, but the complainant said nothing. Eventually the complainant confided in her aunt who then told the complainant’s mother. They went to the father’s homestead and informed his family about the allegations. The father then handed himself over to the police,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
In court, prosecutor Sandiswe Ntuli led the evidence of the complainant, her aunt as well as her mother.
Medical evidence and the testimony of a medical doctor also formed part of the state’s case.
Mr Ntuli handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by the complainant, and facilitated by court preparation officer, Victoria Griffiths.
In her statement, the complainant said that she was teased by her peers about being raped by her father.
She said that she felt embarrassed about herself and could not believe that her own father could subject her to something so awful.
“The man was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape; and the court declared him unsuitable to work with children. The court ordered that his name be added into the National Register for Sex Offenders; and he was found unfit to possess a firearm,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
