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Thandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
A 22-year-old Mphoeng man was yesterday slapped with a 15-year jail term for raping and impregnating his brother’s daughter who is in Grade Six.

The man allegedly raped the 14- year old girl between April,2013 and May, 2014, at her grandmother’s homestead. The girl’s grandmother is blind.

Regional magistrate Mark Dzira described the man’s actions as taboo. “You were supposed to protect this girl who culturally is your daughter. It is clear that people are losing morals nowadays to the extent of men raping their own close relatives like in this case,” said Dzira.

He said the man therefore deserved a deterrent jail term. “You are therefore sentenced to 15 years imprisonment of which four years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. Effectively you will serve 11 years,” said magistrate Dzira.

Tinashe Dzipe, prosecuting, said the complainant reported the abuse to her aunt.

“The girl visited her aunt and slept over at her place. During the night she started making unusual noises in her sleep which made the aunt suspect that she maybe ill,” said Dzipe.

He said she was taken to the clinic and tests confirmed that she was pregnant.

Dzipe said it was only then that she revealed that the accused had raped her several times.