Limpopo father gets life for rape of two minors
The Polokwane High Court on Wednesday sentenced the 39-year-old father to life for rape of two minor children, aged 9 and 11, in Tzaneen.
His 37-year-old friend was also sentenced to two life terms following his conviction on two counts of rape.
They were found guilty of sexual assault and abuse of the man's biological daughters which happened between 2022 and 2023.
Police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba said the ordeal came to light between August and November 2023, when a teacher observed concerning behavioral changes in the children.
"After they disclosed the abuse, the educator promptly alerted relevant stakeholders, including social workers and the police, leading to the immediate removal of the children to a place of safety."
The accused were arrested and later released on bail, but the father's bail was subsequently revoked after he was accused of witness intimidation.
The court heard that the father started facilitating the sexual exploitation of the children who were left under his care after separating with their mother.
"Allegedly, the father would beat the children brutally with a belt and, on occasions when he failed to pay his farm workers, would offer his daughters to be sexually abused as a form of payment.
"In separate incidents, the father's 37-year-old friend would take the minors to a secluded area near a dam where he repeatedly raped them," added Ledwaba.
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