Notinmyname International says it welcomes the landmark life sentence handed down by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court to the Mamelodi man convicted of the systematic rape of his own daughter over a decade-long period of unspeakable cruelty.
The accused preyed on his child from 2010, when she was just 9 years old, until 2020, when she turned 19 – a profound betrayal of trust and a horrific violation of her body, safety, and childhood.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday welcomed the life imprisonment sentence imposed by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on a 64-year-old father from Mamelodi for the repeated rape of his daughter.
The court declared him unfit to work with children or possess a firearm, ordered his name added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders, and directed that his two granddaughters be referred to the children’s court for investigation and inquiry.
The abuse began when the victim was 9 years old in 2010 and continued until she was 19 in 2020, occurring during weekends and school holidays when the victim would visit her father. The mother of the victim and the father were not married; they only shared the child. Before the abuse started, the father told the victim that the abuse was normal in households and warned her not to tell her mother because she had a heart condition.
In 2018, when the victim was 16 years old, while being raped by her father, the condom broke. When the father realised that the condom was broken, he told her to track her menstrual cycle and if she missed it, she should inform him. When she missed her period and was pregnant, he gave her R1,500 to terminate the pregnancy. The rapes persisted despite this.
The abuse came to light in 2021 when the victim started dating and confided in her boyfriend that her father was the only person she had been intimate with, believing it was normal. The boyfriend informed the mother, who confronted the victim. After realising what had been happening was wrong, the victim opened the case at the Mamelodi East police station on 16 January 2021, and the father was arrested on the same day.
In court, the father pleaded not guilty, denying the charges. However, Regional Court Prosecutor Anton Burger presented compelling evidence, proving his guilt. During sentencing, the father requested leniency, citing his role as a breadwinner for his wife, three other children, and two granddaughters.
Burger opposed this, arguing the lack of remorse, the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV), and the father’s betrayal of his duty to protect his daughter. Furthermore, Burger said the father instructed his own daughter to terminate a pregnancy after realising that he was going to father her daughter’s child. What was more shocking was that the father planned the sexual abuse because he prepared the victim for it before it even started, and made her believe it was a normal thing, he added.
In the Victim Impact Statement (VIS), facilitated by the court preparation officer, Kgomotso Lodi, the victim said she cannot recall life without rape, she lost her teenage years, and she now suffers from depression and low self-esteem.
When handing down the sentence, the Acting Regional Court Magistrate Pierre Wessels said violence against women and children is a pandemic in this country, and it was the duty of the courts to combat such offences. Furthermore, the Magistrate agreed with the state that the man showed no remorse for the offences as such, he found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the sentence of life imprisonment.
“The NPA welcomes this sentence, reaffirms its dedication to eradicating GBV, a pervasive crisis in South Africa, by supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators face severe consequences,” said NPA Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
She further said: “This case exemplifies our victim-centred approach and our resolve to foster safe environments where children’s rights to dignity and safety are upheld. Together with our justice partners, we call on communities to stand united against GBV, reporting abuse to break the silence and protect the future”.
Notinmyname International said this sentence reflects the gravity of the crime and sends an unequivocal message: South Africa will not tolerate gender-based violence (GBV), especially the heinous abuse of children within the very spaces meant to protect them – their homes.
“We commend the survivor for her extraordinary courage in enduring this ordeal and pursuing justice. Her strength in testifying ensured her tormentor faced accountability,” said Notinmyname International Secretary-General Themba Masango.
He said while this verdict cannot erase her trauma, it is a vital step toward justice and a powerful affirmation that survivors will be heard.
“We applaud the work of the prosecution, police, and support services involved in securing this outcome,” he said.
Masango said this case is a stark reminder of South Africa’s GBV crisis:
- Children remain vulnerable: Incest and familial rape are devastatingly common.
- Abuse thrives in silence: Perpetrators rely on fear, shame, and family pressure to maintain secrecy.
- Systems must be strengthened: We need proactive child protection, accessible survivor support, and consistent judicial rigor.
“We stand with the survivor.** Her battle exemplifies the resilience we fight for. To survivors everywhere: You are not alone. Report abuse. Seek support. Justice is possible.
