By Doreen Mokgolo
A Thembisa stepfather was sentenced by the Thembisa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to five life terms for raping his mentally disabled stepdaughter and fathering her five children between 2003 and 2016.
The 33-year-old woman suffers from severe cognitive impairment and is classified as a severely mentally disabled person.
The suspect married the victim’s mother when the child was 11 years old.
The family learned about the rape when the victim’s mother questioned her about the father of her fifth child in 2019.
She was hesitant to reveal the truth but eventually broke down and named the stepfather. The child born in 2010 was also fathered by him.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the matter was reported to the police and a case of rape was investigated.
“DNA samples were taken from the accused and confirmed that he fathered all five children. The complainant was 20 years old when she gave birth to her first child.
“The accused denied everything while a psychiatrist confirmed her mental state,” she said.
In another rape incident, the Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court sentenced Joel Mkgopa, 32, and Arone Makhubele, 34, to a combined four life sentences and 39 years of direct imprisonment for rape.
On 25 March 2017 at about 5pm, two teenagers, a boy and a girl, both 17, were attacked by the accused while walking in the street in Tzaneen.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the accused robbed the boy of his cellphone and forced the two teenagers to a local sports ground.
“They took turns raping the girl, forcing the boy to watch the ordeal and … to have sex with the girl. They further assaulted the boy and forced the teenage girl to assault him as well,” he said.
The two were arrested and linked to the rape through DNA tests. They were charged with rape, compelled rape, robbery and assault.
The pair were sentenced to double life imprisonment for rape and compelled rape, 10 years for forcing a minor to witness a sexual offence and five years for assault. They received additional prison terms for robbery.
Pictured above: Police tape.
Image source: File
