By OBAKENG MAJE

A father has been sentenced to six life imprisonment by the Upington Regional Court for raping his own daughter (14). In September 2012, a then 14-year-old victim was allegedly raped and impregnated by her biological father, who also threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to anyone.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson in ZF Mgcawu District, Sergeant Omphile Masegela further said, the case was reported to the police in June 2013 and the father was arrested. Masegela added that, the father was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

“He was sentenced to six life sentences for rape and three years of imprisonment for sexual assault. The meticulous investigation by Warrant Officer, Thabisho Mashililishili and Sergeant Elliot Gaya of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in the ZF Mgcawu District cannot go without recognition after a hefty sentence that was handed down to the accused,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola welcomed the sentence. She warned that there is no place for perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) in the communities.

“The fight against GBV continues and the police are determined to stamp down the authority of the state,” said Otola.

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