KEY POINTS
- Two brothers sentenced – one to life, the other to 10 years – for raping their 7-year-old cousin in 2014.
- The crime was uncovered in 2018 after the victim’s sister found a letter detailing the abuse.
- Prosecutors revealed the older brother orchestrated the assaults and even coerced his younger sibling to participate.
The Gqeberha Regional Court has sentenced two brothers to life and 10 years in prison for the repeated rape of their seven-year-old cousin in 2014.
The older brother, now 30, received a life sentence, while the younger brother, now 22, was given 10 years for his role in the assaults that occurred at their Soweto-on-Sea home near Gqeberha.
The horrific rape crimes only came to light in 2018 when the victim’s younger sister discovered a handwritten letter detailing the abuse. “The minor admitted she had been raped by the two brothers when confronted by her mother,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali. “The brothers initially denied the allegations but were arrested after the mother reported the matter to police.”
Prosecutor details pattern of rape
During the trial, prosecutor Wonga Jita presented evidence that the older brother, who was an adult at the time, sexually assaulted the girl multiple times when she visited their home after school. “On one occasion, he instructed his younger brother, then a minor himself, to also rape her,” Jita revealed.
According to Sowetanlive, the younger brother, who was under 18 during the crimes, received a reduced sentence due to his age at the time.
The case highlights South Africa’s ongoing struggle with sexual violence, particularly against children. Recent statistics show that over 42,000 rapes were reported in 2023-2024, with many cases involving family members as perpetrators.
The victim, now 18, did not speak publicly after the sentencing but has received counseling through organisations like Tears Foundation and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).
