Groom sentenced to life for raping bride's nine-year-old relative
A groom in Limpopo faces life behind bars after raping his bride's nine-year-old relative during their wedding celebrations, highlighting the urgent need for justice against gender-based violence.
Image: File Picture
A 45-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Polokwane for raping a nine-year-old girl, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
IOL reported that the incident occurred on December 24, 2023, during a wedding ceremony in Dennilton, where the accused man, the groom, was present, according to NPA spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
“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,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
“In the early hours, the accused entered the room where the victim was sleeping, carried her to an unoccupied bedroom, and raped her.”
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.
The convicted rapist's name is withheld to protect the minor victim's identity.
During the trial, State advocate Shirley Mawasha presented 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.
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 said during the trial.
Mawasha also highlighted the accused man’s “arrogance and lack of remorse” throughout the trial.
In passing judgment, 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 said, despite DNA evidence, the accused man’s “arrogance” persisted, and the trial left the minor and her family, who had supported him, in misery.
The court sentenced the 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.
The Star