HIV positive grandfather has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his granddaughter.
The 59-year-old grandfather cannot be named because it would indirectly identify his granddaughter.
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The Bethlehem Regional Court heard that on 15 February 2023, the victim was sleeping in the same bed as the accused and her younger brother.
“During the night, the victim felt her panty being pulled down and awoke to find her grandfather inappropriately touching her.”
“When she questioned him, the accused ordered her to be quiet and placed his hand over her mouth, preventing her from screaming as he raped her.
“In a desperate attempt to alert others, the victim used her elbow to wake her brother. Upon awakening, he witnessed the distressing scene and attempted to leave the bed, but the accused forcibly grabbed him.
“However, the victim managed to strike the accused’s hand, allowing her brother to escape and report the incident to their mother.”
The mother quickly arrived in the bedroom and found her daughter in tears. After the victim disclosed the assault, the mother confronted the accused, who denied the allegations.
She then took her daughter to their bedroom and noticed semen on a cloth after gently wiping the victim.
Returning to confront the accused with the evidence, he continued to deny raping his granddaughter.
“The police were then called, and the accused was arrested. Medical examinations confirmed injuries consistent with the victim’s account, as detailed in the J88 report.”
While matter was in court, the grandfather denied the rape and he said the child’s mother was the one who caused her injuries by “inserting” the cloth into her vagina.
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Presecuting state advocate Nolubabalo Twalo told the court the grandfather showed no remorse.
“The accused committed the crime while being HIV positive, further endangering the victim’s health,” advocate Twalo argued.
