Man jailed for life for raping toddler

"The accused accepts the blame for his conduct and he is remorseful," Aggrey Machubeni, for the 19-year-old rapist, read from his confession in court, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Machubeni said the accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was 18 and still at school when he raped the girl who was visiting him in his room.

"When comparing your age with that of the little girl, it is unbelievable," Magistrate Willie Wilkens said.

"How cruel can you be and what on earth made you rape such a small child? You are sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to work with children or possess a firearm."

The man asked when he would be released from prison.

Wilkens said: "Life imprisonment means no parole before 25 years, then it can be considered after that."

The man shook his head in disbelief.

The rapist's name would be added to the register for sexual offenders.

When released from jail he had to disclose his conviction to his employers, failing which he would be fined R140,000 or jailed for seven years.