Police reservist jailed for rape

Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday sentenced a 47-year-old former police reservist to 25 years in jail for raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Free State police said yesterday.

Spokesperson Sergeant Sinah Mpakane said the man was sentenced to three years for assaulting his wife; 25 years for raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter; eight years for attempting to commit sexual offences; 25 years for rape of a then 12-yearold victim using other means to penetrate her; and five years for sexual assault.

“All the sentences are going to run concurrently, meaning he is being imprisoned for 25 years effectively. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. His name will be entered into the sexual of- fenders’ register. He was further declared unfit to work with children. If he applies for parole, the wife must be considered to make a representation to the parole board,” Mpakane said.

“It was discovered during [the] trial that the accused used to rape his stepdaughter and assault his stepson and his wife from 2008 until 2015. At the time of the incident, the accused was working as a police reservist at Bayswater and later at Navalsig police station.”

The mother told the court how she opened the case at Umbilo in KwaZulu-Natal but the man evaded arrest.

Police then found and arrested the man in Roodepoort, where he decided to plead guilty. – ANA