Wednesday, March, 4 2026 - The Boschfontein Regional Court in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has convicted and sentenced a 37-year-old man to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for r@ping a 4-year-old girl.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on
Monday, March 2, 2026, said the accused’s name has been withheld to protect the
victim from secondary victimisation.
At the time of the offence, he was employed as a general
worker at the creche the victim attended.
The incident took place on 01 September 2023 at KwaMhlushwa,
inside the creche premises after school hours.
The victim and her friends were playing outside the creche,
as they lived nearby.
The accused called the victim into the creche’s kitchen,
closed the door, and r3ped her.
The victim’s sister, who was also playing outside, looked
through the window and witnessed the assault.
Later that day, the victim told her mother she was
experiencing pain in her private area.
When the mother investigated, the sister disclosed what she
had seen.
The matter was immediately reported to the police, leading
to the accused’s arrest.
In court, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed he was
not present at the school during the incident.
However, Regional Prosecutor Thembile Ngonyama presented
compelling evidence, including testimony from multiple witnesses, the first
report by the victim, the J88 medical report, and the eyewitness account from
the victim’s sister.
The court found the State’s witnesses credible and rejected
the accused’s version of events.
In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Ngonyama highlighted
the prevalence of such offences and urged the court not to deviate from the
prescribed minimum sentence.
A Victim Impact Statement, compiled by the victim’s mother
and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Lizzy Mhlongo, detailed the severe
ongoing psychological and physical trauma endured by the child and her family.
The court determined there were no substantial and
compelling circumstances to justify deviation from the prescribed minimum
sentence.
The accused was sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment
for rape.
Additional orders include his name being entered on the
National Register for Sex Offenders, a declaration that he is unsuitable to
work with children, and a finding that he is unfit to possess a firearm.
“The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes this
sentence and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to delivering justice for
victims of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly the most vulnerable
children,” the statement added.
“This outcome sends a strong message that sexual violence
against children will be met with the full force of the law. The NPA remains
dedicated to building safer communities through robust prosecutions and
victim-centred support.”
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