In final argument for his client, Hennie Erasmus asked the court to consider that he had no previous convictions and had been walking a straight path until he made a mistake that would “cost him dearly”.
Women and children’s rights activist Siyamthanda Ndlela, of the Total Shutdown Movement, said: “People must stop abusing children and women.
“I wonder what attracted him to a baby, as there would have been excuses of dress code if it was an adult.
“I must applaud the courts of the Eastern Cape as we have been seeing finalisation of gender-based violence and femicide cases.
“They are really working hard to serve justice to the people,” she said. — DispatchLIVE
Pensioner, 62, gets 18 years for raping baby
Image: REUTERS
A Mdantsane pensioner has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping a 15-month-old baby.
Peter Madala Tshemese, 62, was convicted of the crime two weeks ago.
He raped the baby at his home in October 2015, though he maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
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National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani confirmed the sentence, handed down on Wednesday.
“Tshemese’s wife was babysitting the baby while the mother was at work,” Ngcakani said.
“The prosecutor for the case, advocate Shandre Grootboom, stated in court that Tshemese took advantage of an innocent baby girl when he was in a position of trust as a father figure.
“During sentencing, (judge Belinda) Hartle said Tshemese did not take responsibility and was not remorseful for his actions.
“She added that he betrayed his own wife and the parents of the baby, as he was a father figure to the baby.”
The baby is not a relative of the family.
The man’s wife and teenage daughter testified on behalf of the state.
They told the court that the baby had been sleeping in the same bed as Tshemese.
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In final argument for his client, Hennie Erasmus asked the court to consider that he had no previous convictions and had been walking a straight path until he made a mistake that would “cost him dearly”.
Women and children’s rights activist Siyamthanda Ndlela, of the Total Shutdown Movement, said: “People must stop abusing children and women.
“I wonder what attracted him to a baby, as there would have been excuses of dress code if it was an adult.
“I must applaud the courts of the Eastern Cape as we have been seeing finalisation of gender-based violence and femicide cases.
“They are really working hard to serve justice to the people,” she said. — DispatchLIVE
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