A father has been sentenced to two life imprisonment terms for raping his twin daughters on numerous occasions over the span of more than ten years. The 54-year-old man was sentenced at the Tlokoeng regional court on March 9, 2025. The court also imposed additional five-year sentences for two counts of sexual assault, bringing the total punishment to two life terms plus ten years.
According to Luxolo Tyali, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the abuse began shortly after the mother of the victims passed away in 2011. The twins, who were only eleven at the time, stayed with their father following their mother's death. "He started by inappropriately touching them on their private parts before repeatedly raping one of the twins," Tyali explained.
The situation worsened after one of the twins got a job out of town in 2019. With the employed twin away, their father began raping the twin with a mental disability. "The supervisor of the employed twin noticed she was not well psychologically and inquired about her wellbeing. She divulged her father had been raping her," Tyali said.
This prompted the supervisor to inform the twins' older sister, who confronted their father about the allegations. Although the father denied the claims, the twin left alone with him eventually confided to her sister, admitting the abusive acts. Following this, a family meeting was convened, during which the father confessed to his crimes.
Following his confession, the twins' uncle reported the case to the authorities, leading to the father's arrest. During the trial, the father pleaded not guilty, claiming the disabled twin was falsely accusing him to retain her disability grant. Nonetheless, he struggled to explain why both daughters accused him.
State advocate Thamsanqa Vinindwa led the presentation of evidence during the trial, including testimonials from the twin's supervisor and their older sister, along with the twins themselves. The overwhelming evidence led to the court's decision to convict the father.
The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, praised the courage of the victims' family to report the matter instead of concealing the abuse out of fear of humiliation, which he noted is often the case. "Facing such sensitive issues is never easy, and I commend the family for taking the necessary steps to bring this matter to justice," Madolo said.
Cases like this highlight the grim reality of sexual abuse within families, shining light on the urgent need for enhanced public awareness and intervention strategies to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children.
It is imperative for communities to remain vigilant and supportive of such situations, encouraging victims to speak out and seek help. The court's decision serves as a reminder of the consequences faced by offenders and the importance of justice for victims.