Sowetan

Grandmother jailed for 10 years for child rape

By Sapa | Feb 07, 2015 | COMMENTS [ 4 ]

An Mpumalanga pensioner has been sentenced to 10 years in jail by the Nelspruit Regional Court for helping her boyfriend rape her seven-year-old grandchild, and infecting her with HIV.

The 67-year-old woman, from Daantjie near Mbombela, was arrested with her boyfriend in 2008 following the repeated rape of her grandchild, a Sapa correspondent reported on Friday.

She may not be named to protect the child's identity. She pleaded not guilty to rape, conspiracy to commit rape, and attempted murder.

The court heard that the boyfriend, who was HIV-positive, had died.

Passing sentence on Thursday, Magistrate Andre Geldenhuys said although the woman was reported to have been infected with the HI-virus by her boyfriend, she denied being positive before court, saying she used muti to cure herself.

"You said you knew he was HIV-positive, and you used muti. But your health is poor and you currently are on crutches, indicating you suffer from disabilities," Geldenhuys said.

"It is clear you still have the virus."

He said the woman was convicted of helping in the rape of her grandchild, by keeping guard for her boyfriend during the rapes.

"As her grandmother, you should have protected her as she is your daughter's child. But you carried on and exposed her to such violation and humiliation. What makes things worse is that it happened not once but several times, and on different days," he said.

Geldenhuys said there was no evidence about whether the boyfriend influenced her or not, as she had denied any involvement and did not testify.

"The fact is that you have been found guilty of playing a role by assisting him. What is more aggravating is that you show no remorse, which gives this court no substantial and compelling circumstances for a lesser sentence," he said.

He denied her leave to appeal the conviction.