A 36-year-old father was recently convicted of the rape of his young daughter.
In November 2008, a five-year-old girl was raped by her father at her home in Roosboom. She was raped again in February 2009 when she was six years old. At that time, the mother realised her daughter was acting differently and was displaying symptoms which led her to suspect that the child may have been sexually assaulted. She took the child to the doctor, where it was confirmed that this had indeed happened.
It then came to light that the child had been raped by her father whenever the mother was away from home. The Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) investigated the matter and Warrant Officer Siyabonga Mncwango was appointed as the investigating officer.
The father was arrested and on April 16 this year, the case was finalised in the Ladysmith Regional Court. The accused was convicted of rape and sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment. His details are to be placed on the Sexual Offenders Register and he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
