The life imprisonment sentence was handed down by the Lenyenye Regional Court for the repeated rapes which occurred at their home in the Maake area between 2013 and 2016.
The court heard that man covered his tracks by waking up in the early hours to make fire while his wife was asleep.
He then waited for her to go to work before entering the girl’s room and raping her.
The heinous crime was only revealed after the victim’s grandmother discovered she was pregnant. The victim then disclosed how her stepfather repeatedly raped her and threatened to harm her if she told anyone.
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The case was investigated by Sgt Sharon Mabongo of Tzaneen police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
The provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba has applauded the FCS Unit for ensuring the accused is permanently removed from society.
“This sentence will serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators of gender-based violence and will send a clear message that perpetrators of similar crimes will be incarcerated for life,” concluded Ledwaba.
