Parow youth accuses her parents of rape

By Cindy Witten
13 August 2008

A grade 12 student from Parow accused her father of raping her. The girl said that between the ages of 7 and 17, her father assaulted her, but it was not until she was 12 years old that her mother found out. The girl said that her father would continually rape and abuse her and that her mother had even given her contraceptives to prevent her from falling pregnant. After being silent for years the child told her teacher about the incidents which led to the mother and father being charged.

The National Prosecuting Authority views rape in a very serious light and has as a result decided to charge both parents with rape. The conviction followed after a successful plea and sentence agreement negotiations between the state, the parents and their lawyers.

Sandy Godlwana, communications manager for the NPA says that the process of plea and sentence agreement has ensured in this case that the costs involved in a lengthy trial were diminished.

“As a result of the plea and sentence agreement, the daughter will also be spared the trauma of having to give evidence and testify in court against her parents,” said Godlwana.

The father is sentenced to twenty five years direct imprisonment, and must serve a minimum of twenty years before he could apply for parole. The girl’s mother only received a ten year sentence, suspended for three years, because she agreed to testify against her husband.