A Northern Cape father who raped his 14-year-old daughter and impregnated her was eventually exposed by the birth of the child and a DNA test that left him with no explanation.

Mojalefa Senokoatsane, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson for the Northern Cape Division, said in a statement on Friday that the 41-year-old man has now been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hartswater Regional Court after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Senokoatsane further said the disturbing abuse remained hidden for months after the teenager was allegedly threatened into silence by the very person who was supposed to protect her.

The case dates back to October 7, 2021, when the father invited his children to his home to celebrate his birthday.

During the early hours of the following morning, Senokoatsane said the teenager was sleeping in the same bed as her father and younger siblings.

According to evidence presented in court, the younger children eventually left the room. The father then prevented his daughter from leaving, undressed her and sexually assaulted her before raping her.

The teenager cried out for help, but loud music playing in the room meant that nobody came to her aid.

The father allegedly threatened to kill members of the girl’s maternal family if she revealed what had happened.

Then, in July 2022, the secret was exposed in an unexpected and deeply disturbing way.

The teenager went into labour at home.

Her 18-year-old cousin initially believed she was suffering from severe stomach pains and constipation. It was only later that the cousin realised the teenager was giving birth.

The teenager and her newborn were taken to hospital, where medical staff began asking questions because of her age.

The questions eventually led to a police investigation.

The teenager disclosed that her biological father was the father of her baby.

Investigators subsequently obtained deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence, which confirmed the devastating truth: the man was biologically related to the child she had given birth to.

During the trial, the father denied the allegations and claimed the case had been fabricated because members of his wife’s family allegedly disliked him.

But the DNA evidence presented a problem he could not explain.

The court rejected his version and found him guilty of rape and sexual assault.

During sentencing, State Prosecutor Matilda Sekhoetsane argued that the case warranted the prescribed life sentence, pointing to the victim’s age and the fact that the perpetrator was her own father, someone entrusted with her care, protection and wellbeing.

The court also heard about the lasting trauma suffered by the victim.

The court sentenced the father to life imprisonment for rape, together with five years for sexual assault, with the latter sentence running concurrently with the life term.

The NPA welcomed the sentence, saying perpetrators of sexual offences would be held accountable regardless of their relationship with their victims.