The Sibasa Regional Court sentenced a 59-year-old father to life in prison for raping his daughter. The incident relating to the case took place on 14 April last year at Midinungu.

The court heard that the man had sent his 12-year-old daughter to remove the sheets from his bed, so that her mother could wash them. While she was inside, he entered the bedroom and switched off the lights. He then ordered her to take off her pants and raped her.

It was testified that there was a persistent knock on the door, which the man ignored and continued raping her. He only stopped when he heard his wife's voice.

“He placed his hand over my mouth and told me to stop calling out,” said the victim's mother. She testified that the man then told her that it had all come to him like a dream, which misled him into raping his own daughter. He said that he had never planned on desecrating his daughter in such a cruel manner.

The girl's mother rushed out to look for her and found that she had locked herself inside the outdoor pit toilet. The following morning, all family members were called for a meeting. The father apologised and said that it was a temptation which had only entered his mind after he had consumed two bottles of beer.

The accused's wife and her three children had since moved from the man's house and live in a remote village.

Members of the Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) expressed their satisfaction at the outcome of the case. “Dealing with a case where a father had raped his own daughter is a difficult thing,” said investigating officer Lt Tshiwela Masianuga. “We are calling for all people to act against any form of  abuse against women and children.”