Benoni Court sentences uncle to life for repeatedly raping 12-year-old niece

A 41-year-old man has been sentenced by the Benoni Regional Court to life imprisonment for raping his 12-year-old niece.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, was also handed an additional five years’ imprisonment for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The five-year sentence runs concurrently with the life sentence handed down on Tuesday.
The man’s name was also added to the National Register for Sex Offenders, and he has been declared unsuitable to work with children.
Court hears how child was assaulted
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, the rape incidents occurred from October 2019 to June 2021. The first incident happened while the minor was living with her grandparents and older sister in Etwatwa, a township in Ekurhuleni.
In October 2019, the man attended a wedding held at the grandparents’ house. Later that evening, the minor went to the outside toilet. While inside, her uncle entered, closed the door and raped her.
Mahanjana said he threatened to kill her if she told anyone what had happened. The second and third incidents occurred while the minor was alone at home and her grandmother was at work.
The uncle visited the home, closed the door, pushed the minor to the floor, and proceeded to rape and assault her.
In June 2021, the victim’s sister grew concerned about her after noticing behavioural changes and asked what was wrong. The child told her sister what had happened, and