A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison by a Durban magistrate for the rape of a 12-year-old girl, an act committed five years ago on New Year's Eve.
The sentencing, handed down on Tuesday, brings a close to a case that began on December 31, 2021. According to KZN police spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the perpetrator was a neighbor to the victim’s family at the time of the crime.
The court heard that the convicted man lured the young girl into his flat, where he proceeded to assault her. While the victim did not initially report the ordeal to her family, the truth was revealed when her mother overheard her daughter recounting the trauma to a friend.
The mother promptly reported the incident to the police, triggering an investigation by the Brighton Beach Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
The dedicated work of the FCS detectives secured the conviction, ensuring that the rapist will serve a life sentence. In addition to the prison term, the court declared the man unfit to possess a firearm, a standard measure in cases of serious sexual violence.
"The Brighton Beach Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences detectives investigated the matter and ensured that the rapist spends the rest of his life in jail," said Ngcobo.