A 40-year-old man from Ntabankulu in Alfred Nzo district municipality in the Eastern Cape has been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his niece.
The convicted rapist was sentenced by the Mount Frere regional court recently.
According to police, the man raped his seven-year-old relative in November 2021. This after he was left alone at home with the child.
“He was arrested and remained in custody until the finalisation of the case,” said the police in a statement.
“He will no longer pose a threat to society, as he was handed a life term imprisonment.”
In a separate incident, two men aged 18 and 19 were sentenced in the same court for the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The incident took place in Mbizana in June 2019.
The police said the victim was dragged by the 19-year-old to the bedroom of his accomplice where she was sexually assaulted and raped by the teenagers.
The 19-year-old perpetrator was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment while his co-accused received five years in jail for sexual assault.
Alfred Nzo district police commissioner, Major-General Nompumelelo Majikijela, commended the police for their sterling work.
“The success of these cases can be attributed to the thorough investigation by the detectives,” said Majikijela.
“They have left no stone unturned gathering evidence including analyzing every detail to build an airtight case against the accused.
“The SAPS [SA Police Service] is committed to tirelessly pursue justice for the victims, and those who commit such unspeakable acts will face the full might of the law.”
Meanwhile, Action Society has called for Bheki Cele to be removed from his position as minister of police, saying he has failed to execute his duties.
“He should be putting strategies in place to curb and eradicate crime,” said the civil rights organisation.
“He spends his days attending funerals with his motorcade, yelling at activists, making insensitive statements about rape, and trying to convince us that the shocking crime statistics show a decline.
“Not only crime but also the minister is desperately out of control.”
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