MP man handed 18-year sentence for oral rape of nine-year-old boy

A Mpumalanga man who claims he was framed has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for orally raping a nine-year-old boy.

The 25 year old from Matsulu, whose name has been withheld to protect the minor from secondary victimisation, was tried in the Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court and sentenced two years.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said presiding magistrate Vanessa Joubert found substantial and compelling circumstances that justified deviation from the usual sentence and ordered immediate imprisonment.

Man lures boy to his home

On the morning of 17 March 2022, the boy had been walking to school when the perpetrator lured him to his house under the pretence that he wanted to give him a face mask, Nyuswa said in a statement.

“He then instructed the child to take off his clothes and, after realising he was a boy, inserted his penis in the minor’s mouth until he ejaculated,” she added.

ALSO READ: Father handed two life terms for rape and murder of eight-day-old daughter

The man further instructed the boy to swallow the semen and some of it dripped onto his school jersey.

The boy went home crying and came across a man who accompanied him home after divulging the details of what had just happened to him.

The man informed his parents, who reported the matter to the police.

Claims of being framed

During court proceedings, the man denied the allegations and insisted he was framed by the boy’s family.

DNA evidence found on the boy’s school jersey linked him to the offence.

ALSO READ: SANDF member gets 20 years for raping superior’s teen daughter

“In his defence, the accused told the court that the victim’s family got his semen from a used condom in his dustbin and smeared it on the victim’s school jersey,” Nyuswa said.

“State prosecutor Leann Jones presented compelling evidence from the victim, who testified using intermediary services. The report witnesses also testified and corroborated the version of the victim.”

Jones argued for the prescribed minimum sentence of life to be imposed on the accused, emphasising that his predatory behaviour warranted a strong societal message.

Court rejects perpetrator’s claims

The court found the evidence of state witnesses reliable and rejected the accused’s version. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Nyuswa said the sentence reflected the criminal justice system’s firm stance against gender-based violence. “Sexual violence violates victims’ constitutional rights to dignity and privacy while undermining societal trust. The [NPA] remains steadfast in prosecuting such cases to deliver justice and support all victims.”

NOW READ: Police arrest 222 rape suspects in just a week, minors among victims