A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years of direct imprisonment for the violent assault of his former 17-year-old girlfriend, in a case that underscores the justice system’s stance against gender-based violence.
The Garies Regional Court in the Northern Cape convicted Darryl Joseph on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). Alongside his prison term, Joseph has been declared unfit to work with children or possess a firearm.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the sentencing highlights the NPA’s commitment to holding perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable.
Details of the Attack
The assault took place on October 15, 2022, in Paulshoek, a small town near Garies in the Namakwa district.
Court proceedings revealed that Joseph and the victim were in a relationship at the time. On the night of the attack, the teenager was socializing with friends at her cousin’s house when Joseph arrived and demanded she step outside. Upon approaching him, he savagely beat her with a dropper pole, striking her in the face.
In an attempt to protect herself, the victim grabbed a friend, using her as a shield. Her friend managed to escape, while Joseph chased down the victim, continuing his violent attack. Witnesses, including the victim’s cousin and friends, attempted to intervene but were unsuccessful.
Joseph later forced the victim to his residence, where the abuse continued before they eventually went to bed. The next morning, the victim escaped and sought help from a family friend. Joseph pursued her, pleading for forgiveness, but by then, the police had already been alerted.
A Pattern of Abuse
The court also heard that this was not the first instance of violence. The victim had previously endured physical abuse from Joseph but had refrained from pressing charges due to his repeated apologies and pleas for forgiveness.
The assault left her with multiple severe injuries, including facial fractures that required surgery.
Sentencing and Justice
Joseph was sentenced under minimum sentence legislation, which required him to prove substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence. However, the court found no grounds for leniency and imposed the mandatory 10-year sentence.
“The sentence reinforces the justice system’s commitment to protecting victims of gender-based violence,” said Senokoatsane.