The Bloemfontein Sexual Offences Court has imposed a life sentence on a 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman for the rape of three children. Each received an additional 18 years for counts of sexual exploitation and assault.

They were sentenced on Wednesday 3 June.

The accused’s details have been withheld in accordance with legal provisions protecting the identities of sexual offence victims. However, their details will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).

Two of the duo’s victims are the biological children of the woman and the other is her niece.

Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) in the Free State, said the court found that the offences occurred over a period of five years, beginning in 2015. The children were apparently subjected to the crimes from ages 10, 11, and 14 respectively.

Senokoatsane said that compelling evidence of wrongdoing was presented during the trial. He said the court heard harrowing details of the abuse.

“In one incident, the boyfriend raped a 10-year-old victim in the presence of the woman. Afterwards, he continued sexual intercourse with the mother while the child remained in the room,” he said.

Senokoatsane said the state also presented victim impact statements prepared by Maggie Faas, highlighting the profound trauma and long-term harm suffered by the children. He said the court imposed life sentences considering state prosecutor Joseph Cwele’s argument: “Both the accused failed to protect the children. There was no better sentence than life imprisonment. The children suffered trauma that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

According to Senokoatsane, the outcome reflected how the NPA works closely with law enforcement agencies, particularly the South African Police Service (SAPS), social workers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders within the criminal justice system to strengthen investigations and prosecutions.