Meyerton father heavily sentenced for sexual crimes against children

MEYERTON - A 42-year-old father from Meyerton has been sentenced to four life terms and 73 years direct imprisonment for sexual crimes committed towards five minor children aged 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 years old from 2019 to November 2020. IOL reports the Pretoria High Court also ordered that his name be added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders. Two of the minors are his biological children. According to national NPA regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, Judge Masopa convicted him of two counts of statutory rape, two counts of sexual grooming, two counts of rape and two counts of instructing a child to commit sexual offences, incest and possession of pornography, as well as sexual assault. Mahanjana said at the time of the incidents, the man was in a relationship with the mothers of the two minor children, aged 10 and 11. IOL reports Mahanjana added that in mitigation of his sentence, the father read a statement and asked the court to impose a sentence of 25 years because he was now a changed man and had found God in prison. However, Mahanjana said in aggravation of sentence, the State prosecutor, advocate Salome Scheepers, told the court that crimes of gender-based violence were prevalent in the country. The man was a father and a stepfather to his victims, and he was in a position of trust but betrayed that trust.

PHOTO: (Supplied)