A stepfather has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of two his stepdaughters. The accused  appeared at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates for sentencing.
The 57 year old raped his 13 and 15 year-old stepdaughters for 16 years when he first moved into their home. The man was dating the victims' mother and was the sole provider for the family. They stayed in Kamieldrift, Pretoria East and whenever the accused bought clothes for the victims,  in return he would demand to have sexual intercourse with them.

TRUTH DISCOVERED AT FAMILY GATHERING

It is alleged that he didn't do this in front of their mother but would take them one by one to "fetch wood or tend to the chickens." This was discovered during a family function in December 2019, when the 13-year-old asked other kids who were at the function if they too pay with sexual favours when their fathers buy them things.  The adults who were at the function including the mother overheard the conversation.  The matter was reported to the police, and the stepfather was arrested in January 2020 and has been in custody since, after the NPA successfully opposed bail.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM

In court, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. In aggravation, the prosecutor Akanyang Ben Smith told the court that the children were stripped of their dignity.
" A man who was supposed to protect them and be their father brutally evaded their privacy and integrity at a tender age.  The children were psychologically impacted by the incidents; therefore,I  ask the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment."
He was sentenced  to four life terms and 21-years imprisonment. The Director of Public Prosecution, Advocate Mzinyathi thanked the work of the prosecutor and the investigating team that led to the conviction and sentence. He said he wants to assure the community that prosecuting crimes of Gender-Based Violence remains a priority for the NPA.