A 31-year-old man from De Doorns has been sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape of his 11-year-old disabled foster sister in the Cape winelands.
The Worcester regional court heard the girl’s mother woke during the incident in April 2019 and witnessed the man leaving the bed in which her daughter was sleeping.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “The matter was reported to police the next day, leading to the accused’s arrest after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.”
State prosecutor Amisha Ratanjie submitted documents to the court, including the minor’s birth certificate, a report from Cape Mental Health, a pre-sentencing report and a victim impact report.
“In her address, Ratanjie urged the court to impose a life sentence, emphasising the accused had a duty to protect the victim, with whom he had grown up as siblings.
“She highlighted he was fully aware of the victim’s age and mental disability, having committed a betrayal that destroyed the trust between them,” said Ntabazalila.