Former government employee and church deacon sentenced to life in prison for raping niece

A 61-year-old former employee of the Ministry of Public Service and Administration has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his 10-year-old niece in 2017.

In an act unbecoming of a church deacon and a former government official, a 61-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for raping his niece.

After her uncle raped her in 2017, the niece of a former employee of the Ministry of Public Service and Administration suffered from depression and emotional trauma, which negatively affected her academic performance.

The victim, then ten years old, was staying with her aunt, who was married to the suspect, when the incident occurred.

Niece, 10, raped by aunt’s husband

On November 12, 2017, the man and his niece moved some of their belongings to their new residence in Mamelodi East, Tsakane Section.

Upon their arrival, the man, who also holds the position of deacon at the International Assemblies of God Church, raped his niece and instructed her not to tell anyone, claiming they were “playing a game.”

The truth about what happened only came to light a year later when the aunt heard about the rape and reported it to the police on November 18, 2018. The former government official and church deacon was arrested on February 2, 2019.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the uncle pleaded not guilty to rape at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court, claiming his wife conspired to remove him from the family.

Mahanjana, however, said state Attorney General Annelizer Stiles called several witnesses to the witness stand, including the victim, a medical professional and the suspect’s wife, who provided compelling evidence proving the man’s guilt.

The suspect claimed that his wife was conspiring against him

“In addition, during the proceedings, attorney Stiles submitted a Victim Impact Report (VIR), facilitated by social workers from the Ministry of Social Development. The report found that the victim suffered significant adverse effects on her academic performance,” Mahanjana said.

The woman also said in a VIR that the incident led to the breakdown of her marriage and had a toxic effect on the family dynamic, including alienation from her older children, who blamed her for their father’s arrest.

In passing sentence, Magistrate Ntlanti emphasized that the suspect showed no remorse for his actions despite taking advantage of a vulnerable child.

Consequently, he was sentenced to life in prison and declared unfit to possess a firearm. The uncle’s name will also be added to the National Register of Sex Offenders.

Sex offenders register

The NPA welcomed the verdict and reaffirmed its commitment to combating sexual violence and protecting victims’ rights.

“The NPA will continue to hold perpetrators accountable to ensure justice for individuals affected by such heinous crimes,” Mahanjana said.