Verulam man who raped stepdaughter gets 9 life sentences

A VERULAM stepfather who repeatedly raped his minor stepdaughter after the death of her mother and also trafficked her has been handed nine life sentences in the Durban High Court.

The 46-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor daughter, had maintained his innocence throughout the trial following his arrest in 2018. He was convicted in December last year.

The victim was used to create child pornography, raped repeatedly and forced to perform sex acts.

Police said the victim, a 9-year-old girl, had lost her mother in 2014 and was left in the care of her stepfather.

Police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said: “The father turned into a monster when he started to see the innocent girl as his sex slave rather than as his daughter.”

Gwala said that in 2018, the stepfather lost his temper, assaulted the victim and chased her out the house.

She said the girl went to a neighbour’s house and reported that she was being abused by her stepfather.

“The neighbour called the police. When members of the community heard that the father was abusing the victim they assaulted him. He was rescued by police and taken to hospital under police guard.”

Gwala said a case was opened at Phoenix SAPS and he was charged with numerous counts of rape, sexual grooming, possession and distribution of child pornography, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, compelling a child to witness sexual acts and sexual grooming.

“The accused pleaded not guilty. But after overwhelming evidence was presented against him, he was convicted.”

The man received eight life sentences for rape, life imprisonment for human trafficking and an additional 173 years on the other counts.