'Greedy' groom raped bride's minor relative at his wedding celebrations in Limpopo
After tying the knot, as people were sleeping at night, the groom sneaked into a room where the nine-year-old girl was, carried her to an unoccupied bedroom, and raped her.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
The High Court in Polokwane has imposed a life sentence on a 45-year-old man from Dennilton, in Limpopo, for raping a nine-year-old girl.
The convicted rapist's name is withheld to protect the minor victim's identity.
Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the incident occurred on 24 December 2023 during a wedding ceremony in Dennilton, where the accused man was the groom.
“The victim, her mother, younger sibling, and two aunts — part of the bride’s family — were offered a room to sleep at the bride’s residence after the celebration. In the early hours, the accused entered the room where the victim was sleeping, carried her to an unoccupied bedroom, and raped her,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
The little girl’s screams for help prompted the rapist to flee.
Her mother found her naked and immediately reported the matter to the police, which led to the accused man’s arrest.
During trial, state advocate Shirley Mawasha presented compelling evidence, including a J88 medical report, DNA evidence, and testimony from the accused’s uncle, who confirmed the accused admitted to sexually assaulting a child and expressed remorse to him.
In aggravation, the prosecution argued that the accused betrayed the family’s trust, exploiting his role as a protector.
“His actions turned a day meant for celebration into a horror, damaging the relationship between the two families irreparably due to his greed,” Mawasha submitted.
The prosecution also highlighted the accused man’s “arrogance and lack of remorse” throughout the trial.
In passing judgement, the judge condemned the accused man’s actions, noting that as a newlywed, he should have shared his first night with his bride, not committed an act “fit for movies, not real life.”
The court emphasised that the accused knowingly took the child, left her on the floor, and fled, showing a ruthless lack of conscience.
The judge highlighted that despite DNA evidence, the accused man’s “arrogance” persisted, and the trial left the minor and her family, who had supported him, in misery.
Aligning with the prosecution, the court sentenced the accused man to life imprisonment, stressing the need to protect society, vulnerable groups, and deter similar offenders.
The convicted man was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders, and deemed unsuitable to work with children.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence imposed by the court.
The NPA has reaffirmed its commitment to justice for victims of gender-based violence and the safety of communities.
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