MADADENI – The Madadeni Regional Court has sentenced a 28-year-old woman to life imprisonment plus an additional five years for raping her younger brother and exposing him to pornography.

The court handed down the sentence, yesterday – (Friday, 17 April). The accused’s identity has been withheld to protect the victim’s identity due to their familial relationship.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa has welcomed the court’s decision following the presentation of compelling evidence.

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the NPA’s KwaZulu-Natal Division, said the woman repeatedly sexually abused her younger brother between 2022 and 2024 while they lived together with their mother. She said the accused pleaded guilty to raping her brother, who was eight years old at the time. This took place in the Newcastle’s township of Osizweni in KwaZulu-Natal province.

“Court records show she threatened the child not to reveal the abuse to anyone. The child’s mother testified about the behavioral impact the abuse had on her son,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

She said the abuse came to light in 2024 after the boy attended a school presentation about reporting inappropriate touching. “Encouraged by the programme, he disclosed the incidents to his mother. The child was immediately taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medical and psychological support before police were notified and the woman was arrested,” she said.

During sentencing, state prosecutor Zama Zikalala highlighted that the accused had violated her position of trust as the victim’s older sister, Ramkisson-Kara said.

“The court imposed a life sentence for rape and five years for exposing a minor to pornographic material. She was also declared unfit to possess firearms and her name was entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders,” said Ramkisson-Kara.