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A KwaDabeka man received life imprisonment for repeatedly raping a 14-year-old girl he lured into his rented room under the guise of chores, with assaults occurring over 11 months.
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The survivor’s grandmother uncovered the abuse after noticing behavioral changes, leading to the perpetrator’s arrest and the victim’s relocation due to community stigma.
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The NPA emphasized the ruling as part of broader efforts to address South Africa’s GBV crisis, with the accused barred from firearm ownership and added to the National Sex Offenders Register.
A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pinetown Regional Court for the prolonged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl residing on his landlord’s property in KwaDabeka, KwaZulu-Natal.
The crimes occurred between February 2023 and January 2024, during which the accused exploited his proximity to the victim by luring her into his room under false pretenses.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Nathasha Ramkisson-Kara revealed that the perpetrator, who rented a room from the victim’s grandmother, manipulated the teenager by assigning chores as a ruse to isolate her. “He would call her to his room to help with tasks, then lock the door and rape her,” Ramkisson-Kara stated.
IOL reports that the the abuse continued for nearly a year until the grandmother noticed drastic behavioral changes in the girl, including withdrawal and anxiety.
Rape survivor relocates after enduring community stigma and emotional Scars
When confronted by her grandmother, the teenager disclosed the horrific ordeal. “She asked the complainant what was wrong and was told about what the accused was doing,” Ramkisson-Kara explained. With support from other tenants, the grandmother confronted the man and reported him to authorities.
The victim was rushed to the Chatsworth Thuthuzela Care Centre, a facility specializing in trauma support for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, where forensic evidence confirmed repeated assault.
During the trial, State Prosecutor Lethuxolo Nene presented testimony from the survivor, her grandmother, and a medical expert who documented the physical injuries. A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Bonisile Mngoma, detailed the girl’s anguish. “I feel like my childhood was stolen,” she wrote, adding that she relocated due to safety fears and endured ridicule from peers who learned of the attacks. “They teased me and made me feel ashamed,” her statement read.
The court condemned the accused’s actions as “predatory and calculated,” imposing a life term for rape, a lifetime ban on firearm ownership or working with children, and mandatory registration in the National Sex Offenders Register. Ramkisson-Kara reiterated the NPA’s stance: “Sentences like this underscore our resolve to combat GBV and protect society’s most vulnerable.”
The case has reignited calls for stronger protections for minors in rental communities. Local advocacy group Women Against Violence (WAV) praised the sentencing but highlighted systemic gaps. “Landlords often turn a blind eye to tenants’ backgrounds, putting children at risk,” said WAV spokesperson Zinhle Dlamini. Recent SAPS data shows KwaZulu-Natal recorded over 4,000 reported rape cases in 2024, with minors accounting for 37% of victims.
