A preacher in Mothotlung in North West has been sentenced to life in prison after he raped his 12-year-old niece.
This despite the victim’s mother’s hesitance to initially lay charges against her brother, as her family relied on him financially.
The 43-year-old Simao Hlongwane’s fate was sealed by the Ga-Rankuwa regional court on Thursday. His name will be entered into the national register of sexual offenders.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the convicted rapist sent the girl to his shack to perform house chores on January 17 2017.
The girl did as she was told, not knowing that Hlongwane was following behind and had intentions to rape her.
Mamothame said the victim first confided in her 15-year-old sister, who conveyed the message to their mother. However, the mother failed to report the crime.
It was revealed in court that the victim, for fear of being raped for the second time, reported the matter to the police on January 23 2021.
“This is after the accused continued to touch her inappropriately over some time,” according to Mamothame.
“The police subsequently summoned the mother to assist the child in opening a criminal case.”
Mamothame described the mother as unsupportive of her daughter, as the accused was the bread winner in the family.
He added that the mother described Hlongwane as a generous person and that his wife shared those sentiments.
“His sister and wife said the accused was a religious man who believes in prayer, and that he is affiliated with a Christian church at which he is a preacher.”
State prosecutor advocate Mummy Mosonodi convinced the court that the accused failed to demonstrate moral and religious values when he committed the crime.
She urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
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