Cape Town - A Mitchell’s Plain grandfather has been sentenced to life behind bars for raping his 13-year-old granddaughter.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the 63-year-old was convicted in the Mitchell’s Plain Regional Court this week, and was also slapped with a 10-year sentence for attempted rape.
The man, who cannot be named to protect his victim, was on parole for the rape of his daughter when he was arrested for raping his granddaughter.
Ntabazalila says despite overwhelming evidence that led to his conviction, the grandfather maintained his innocence and attempted to paint the victim in a bad light.
“He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, forcing regional court prosecutor, Sergio Lorenzo Goff, to run a full trial and calling witnesses including the victim, her parents, Dr Haffajee, who examined the victim and Dr Macky Matanda from Heideveld Thuthuzela Centre, who confirmed the injuries on the victim’s private parts,” Ntabazalila said.
The incident dates back to May 2018 and the victim, who is now 19 years old, testified in the trial.
Ntabazalila adds: “She testified to the court that on the day she did not attend her grade 6 class as she was not well. She and her parents stayed in a wendy house in the backyard of the accused’s house. The accused was her paternal grandfather and was at home on the day. There was a rental agreement between her parents and her grandparents and as part of that her parents would use the toilet inside the house as the wendy house did not have a toilet.
“Around the afternoon, she went into the house to use the bathroom and as she went out, the accused stood in front of her without saying anything.
“He dragged her into his bedroom, undressed and raped her. She attempted to scream and fight back but he overpowered her. He then stood up and left.
“She ran into the wendy house, locked herself inside, and went to bed without telling anyone about her ordeal. She feared the consequences if she told anyone.”
The next day he attempted to rape the girl again but she fought him off and ran to her father who confronted the grandfather.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, welcomed the sentence and emphasised the NPA’s determination to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and the importance of continuing with the campaign of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children throughout the year.