The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the Mpumalanga High Court, sitting at the Balfour Regional Court, has sentenced a 48-year-old man to three life terms of imprisonment after being found guilty on three counts of rape.
According to the statement, the accused was arrested on 2 September 2022 after his 17-year-old daughter disclosed to a friend that she had been raped by her father over a period spanning from 2019 to 16 July 2022. The matter was reported to police, leading to the swift arrest by an investigating officer from the Balfour Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
The accused was granted bail and remained out on bail until his conviction on 20 April 2026.
The court handed down the following sentences:
- Count 1: Life imprisonment
- Count 2: Life imprisonment
- Count 3: Life imprisonment
In addition, the accused has been declared unfit to possess a firearm. His details will be recorded in both the National Register for Sex Offenders and the National Child Protection Register, and he has been declared unfit to work with children.
SAPS commended both the investigating officer and the prosecution team for their work in securing the conviction, reiterating its commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society and ensuring justice is served.