Man jailed for 25 years after luring five-year-old stepdaughter with Simba chips and raping her

A 50-year-old man from North West has been sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment after a Kimberley Regional Court found him guilty of raping his five‑year‑old stepdaughter.

How the attack unfolded

The incident occurred on 21 October 2023. The accused arrived home at approximately 1:30pm and found the child at home with her mother, sister and her mothers friend watching television. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the man was under the influence of alcohol and lured the child to his room by promising her Simba chips. Instead of giving her the snack, he raped her.

Interruption, medical exam and arrest

The rape was interrupted when the childs mother caught the accused in the act. She immediately reported the matter to police and the child was taken to hospital for a medical examination. A doctor confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault and the man was arrested and charged.

Support and prosecution

Senokoatsane said the Galeshewe Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) provided counselling and psychosocial services to the child and her mother. He described the programme as adopting “a victim-centred, multidisciplinary approach to addressing gender-based violence, ensuring that survivors and their families receive the necessary care, support, and guidance throughout the criminal justice process.”

During sentencing, regional court prosecutor Matilda Sekhoetsane argued for a punishment reflecting the gravity of the offence, saying the accused had “abused the trust placed in him by the child’s mother in his capacity as a parental figure.”

Victim impact and court orders

Court preparation officers Dimpho Nikane and provincial manager Matshidiso Maubane assisted in preparing victim impact statements that, the NPA said, detailed the “profound emotional and psychological impact of the crime on both the child and her mother, who was in a relationship with the accused at the time of the offence.”

The court imposed 25 years’ direct imprisonment. It also declared the man unfit to possess a firearm, ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children.

NPA response

Senokoatsane said the NPA remains committed to combating gender-based violence and protecting children. “The successful prosecution and significant sentence imposed in this matter demonstrate the NPA’s determination to hold perpetrators accountable and to ensure that justice is served for the most vulnerable members of society,” he added.