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High Court Upholds Life Sentence for Man Who Exploited an 11-Year-Old with R20
A ruling that closes the door on an appeal
The Western Cape High Court has confirmed that a man convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl will spend the rest of his life behind bars. The court dismissed every part of his appeal, finding no fault with the original conviction or the life sentence handed down by the Parow Regional Court.
The accused, Songezo Wulana, was 43 at the time of the trial. He was found guilty of raping a young neighbour, exploiting her poverty and vulnerability by giving her R20 and expecting silence in return.
The child’s testimony and the reality of poverty
During the trial, the child told the court she accepted the money because she was desperate. She wanted to buy chips, something her family could not always afford when her mother was unemployed. The court heard that the child returned to the man’s home more than once, not because of consent, but because the small amount of money mattered in her daily life.
The judge made it clear that this context was crucial. Poverty, hunger, and trust were weaponised against a child who should have been protected by the adults around her.
Why the court rejected the defence version
Wulana claimed the child initiated sexual contact and suggested they were in a relationship. He further argued that the case was fabricated so that the child’s mother could take his house. The courts rejected these claims outright.
High Court Judge James Lekhuleni described the accused’s version as improbable and disturbing. He stressed that it was not reasonably possible for an 11-year-old child to dominate or manipulate a grown adult.
The appeal court agreed fully with the trial court that the child’s evidence was consistent, credible, and truthful, despite her being a single witness.
A breach of trust that carried the heaviest sentence
In his judgment, Judge Lekhuleni said the accused betrayed a child who looked to him for safety. Instead of protecting her, he groomed and exploited her with money. The court also confirmed that the Parow Regional Court had been correct not to blame the child for returning to his home after the first rape.
Both the conviction and the life sentence imposed by the Parow Regional Court were upheld by the Western Cape High Court.
Public reaction and a wider message
Cases like this continue to spark anger and heartbreak across South Africa, particularly on social media, where many have pointed to how poverty leaves children exposed to abuse. The judgment sends a clear message that attempts to shift blame onto child victims will not succeed in court.
It also highlights the judiciary’s firm stance on crimes against children, especially where trust and financial desperation are used as tools of abuse.
A reminder of what justice looks like
This ruling reinforces a hard truth. Consent cannot exist where a child is involved, and exploitation will be met with the harshest penalties available under the law. The life sentence stands as both punishment and warning, affirming that the courts will protect the most vulnerable when it matters most.
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Source: IOL
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