South African courts have in recent days handed down a series of notable convictions and heavy sentences in sexual offences cases, reflecting the country’s ongoing struggle against gender-based violence (GBV) and the justice system’s efforts to respond with severity.

On Thursday, the Fraserburg Regional Court in the Northern Cape sentenced 37-year-old Dawid Bitterbos to four life terms for repeatedly raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter between 2017 and 2020. Bitterbos was convicted on four counts of rape of a minor under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

The abuse came to light only when the child’s pregnancy was discovered in 2020, prompting a police investigation. Despite his denials and attempts to delay the trial by frequently changing lawyers, the court found the victim’s testimony credible and dismissed his claims that she had consented.

Prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp argued that Bitterbos had gravely abused his position of trust as a stepfather, with a Victim Impact Statement highlighting the child’s severe trauma. The court imposed life sentences on each count, also declaring him unfit to work with children and ordering his name to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

“The judgment sends a clear message that the courts will not hesitate to impose the harshest penalties on perpetrators of child sexual abuse,” said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the Northern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Empangeni Regional Court sentenced a 24-year-old man to life imprisonment plus 75 years for the rape of his two cousins, aged 16 and 19, in the Sokhulu area. Some of the sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life plus 25 years.

The man moved in with the victims’ family in 2023 and began raping them repeatedly. He threatened one cousin with death and propositioned the other to be his “second wife.” When the older victim attempted suicide, the abuse came to light, and both sisters reported him.

Prosecutor Edwina Du Plessis presented compelling testimony and Victim Impact Statements, which described the lifelong trauma inflicted on the sisters. The court ordered that the man be barred from owning a firearm and placed on the National Register for Sex Offenders.

“This conviction is a victory for the complainants who bravely stood in court and faced their abuser,” said NPA KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.

In Limpopo, the Nebo Regional Court sentenced a 39-year-old traditional healer to life imprisonment plus 10 years for raping and sexually assaulting two girls aged 14 and 16 in Mokgaladi village. The court heard that he had claimed the girls were “possessed by evil spirits” and subjected them to a fake cleansing ritual while their mother was absent.

State Advocate Shumani Martin Tshishonga argued that no mitigating factors existed, and the court agreed, describing the healer’s conduct as a gross violation of trust.

“The sentence affirms the NPA’s commitment to hold accountable those who exploit cultural authority to commit such crimes,” said Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

Conviction Statistics and the GBV Crisis

The recent sentences come against the backdrop of stubbornly high rates of sexual violence in South Africa, where gender-based violence is often described as the country’s “second pandemic.”

According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s 2024/25 Annual Report, the conviction rate for sexual offences stood at 74%, with over 6,200 convictions recorded nationally. More than half of these cases involved minors. The NPA has prioritised sexual offence matters through Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), specialised facilities that provide victims with medical, psychosocial and legal support.

Police crime statistics for 2024 revealed that over 42,000 rapes were reported across South Africa, a figure experts warn remains an underestimation given widespread underreporting due to stigma and fear.

Civil society organisations continue to call for more comprehensive strategies, including improved policing, survivor-centred support, and stronger community awareness campaigns to shift harmful gender norms.

Justice System’s Response

The string of recent judgments demonstrates the judiciary’s uncompromising stance in punishing perpetrators of sexual violence. However, campaigners argue that harsher sentencing alone cannot curb the crisis.

“The courts are doing their part by ensuring long-term imprisonment for rapists. But we need prevention programmes, safe housing for survivors, and a justice system that is survivor-friendly at every step,” said GBV activist Nomsa Dlamini in an interview.

The NPA has pledged to expand the network of TCCs and intensify public awareness campaigns. The Department of Justice has also committed to improving case backlogs, which often retraumatise victims and delay justice.

As the sentences in Fraserburg, Empangeni, and Nebo show, the justice system is determined to hold perpetrators accountable. Yet, with thousands of women and children facing sexual violence each year, South Africa continues to confront the harsh reality of a GBV crisis that requires both punishment and prevention.