A Betrayal of Innocence: Cousin Gets Life for Raping 5-Year-Old Girl in eMpembeni

In a case that hinges on the most profound betrayal of trust, a 35-year-old man has been sentenced to life behind bars for the rape of his five-year-old cousin. The Esikhawini Regional Court delivered the ultimate sentence, condemning the man for an act that shattered a family and a young child’s world.

The horrific incident took place in the eMpembeni area in 2023. The court heard how the little girl, after returning home from school, went to her cousin’s house to wait for her mother. It was a place that should have been safe; they were not just neighbours, but family.

A Predator’s Opportunity

Tragically, that familial trust was the weapon used against her. When the accused’s mother left the house, he was left alone with the child and other young children. Seizing the opportunity, he took the five-year-old to a nearby rondavel and raped her.

The truth emerged when the girl’s mother arrived. Her daughter ran to her, and upon hearing what had happened, the mother immediately confronted the accused. He denied the allegations, but the evidence was undeniable. The child was taken to the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre for crucial medical and psychosocial support, leading to the man’s arrest at his homestead.

A Childhood Stolen

In court, Prosecutor Kamogelo Mahila Nkwatle emphasized the gravity of the abuse of trust. The accused was an older relative, a person duty-bound to protect the child, not to prey upon her. The State presented a Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by a court preparation officer, in which the little girl expressed her profound sadness, stating that she was “happy” before the incident but has been “sad all the time” since.

The court found the man showed no remorse for his actions. In addition to the life sentence, the court formally declared him unsuitable to work with children, unfit to possess a firearm, and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The National Prosecuting Authority highlighted that the fight against sexual violence is being bolstered by the expansion of Thuthuzela Care Centres, which provide a lifeline of comprehensive support to victims. For one little girl in eMpembeni, the long road to healing has at least begun with a measure of justice.

{Source: Citizen}

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