Limpopo court sentences Zimbabwean man for raping his 13-year-old daughter

A 39-year-old Zimbabwean national has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sibasa Regional Court for raping his 13-year-old daughter while they were living in Phiphidi village, outside Thohoyandou.

The rapist's identity is withheld to protect the child. The court also ordered that his name be added to the National Sexual Offenders Register.

According to Mashudu Malabi, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, the man brought his daughter from Zimbabwe on 1 August 2020 to spend the school holidays with him in South Africa.

"On their arrival in the Limpopo province at Phiphidi Village, the accused began to have sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent. He further instructed her to remain silent and threatened to leave her in South Africa if she told anyone. The accused would not allow the victim to play with other children," said Malabi.

"The neighbour with whom they were staying at their rental place noticed the child's unusual behaviour. She then informed the police. After thorough police investigations, the accused was arrested, and the minor victim was referred to Tshilidzini Thuthuzela Care Centre."

During trial, in aggravation of the sentence, the state advocate, Rabelani Makhera, presented the Victim Impact Report compiled by state official Mulondo Ganuku. The report detailed the impact of the incident on the minor victim, particularly because the accused is her biological father.

The state further emphasised the gravity of the offence, the vulnerability of the rape victim, and the betrayal of trust by the accused, who abused his position of authority and the principle of Ubuntu. The state concluded by submitting that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

The NPA in Limpopo has welcomed the ruling.

Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, stated that the expansion of the Thuthuzela Care Centre network — now comprising 64 centres nationwide — continues to strengthen the fight against sexual violence.

Thenga further commended "the good work" done by advocate Makhera and other stakeholders who ensure that victims of gender-based violence receive justice.