A Mpumalanga father has been sentenced after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his two biological daughters, who were eight and 12 years old when the crimes were committed.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said the 43-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years’ jail by the Boschfontein Regional Court on Monday, following his conviction on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The father’s identity has been withheld to protect the identities of his daughters.
Eight-year-old raped while sleeping with parents
Masondo said both attacks took place at the family’s home in 2022.
“The court heard that in the first incident, the victim, who was 12 years old at the time, was at their parental home during the year 2022 when her father molested her,” he said.
In a separate incident that year, his other daughter, who was just eight at the time, was raped while sleeping with both of her parents.
The crimes were reported at Malelane Police Station on October 18, 2024, and the father was arrested the following day.
Masondo said the case was investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, with investigators gathering evidence that ultimately secured the conviction.
Father sentenced for rape and sexual assault
The court sentenced the father to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for rape and seven years for sexual assault.
According to the police, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
“The court ordered that the sentences would run concurrently and that the accused’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders,” Masondo said.
‘A betrayal of trust’
Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Apaphia Modise welcomed the sentence, saying the crimes represented a profound betrayal by a father entrusted with protecting his children.
“This is a betrayal of trust by a father who was supposed to protect his own children. We welcome this lengthy sentence and the fact that a predator has been removed from society.
“We hope that this sentence sends a strong message that crimes against children will never be tolerated.
“We commend the victims for their bravery, their family and the school for reporting, and Warrant Officer Dladla for his thorough investigation,” she said.
