20 years for pensioner who raped two sisters

The older man pleaded guilty to the crime.

Children are viewed by society as helpless and in need of protection.

That’s why they’re considered an endangered group. But they grow up and develop into useful members of the country. Then when people reach a certain age, they’re considered endangered again.

Older people should also look forward to the winter days of their lives with protection.

They are also the guardians of knowledge and it is important to them to spend time with the younger generations and pass on this knowledge.

It is sad when an older person takes advantage of a child entrusted to him.

A man from the Western Cape Province has been convicted by the Hermanus Regional Court of raping two minors whom he was supposed to be helping with their homework.

Read more | KZN neighbour convicted of raping disabled girl

The pensioner (63) committed the crimes between March and September 2021.

The state had asked the court to impose a life sentence for each of the rape charges, but the court deviated from the mandatory minimum sentence, citing his age.

The man, whose name cannot be mentioned as this would mean indirectly identifying the victims, pleaded guilty.

In his plea, he told the court that he rented a room from the children’s parents in 2020 and moved to another accommodation three months later.

The mother of the two girls, then 10, 11 and 12 years old respectively, asked him to look after her daughters while she and her husband worked in a boarding house.

Read more | Family friend sentenced to life in prison for raping girl in her home

“He helped the children with their homework and they trusted him. One afternoon they fell asleep in his room and he raped the eldest and molested the younger. Then he told them not to tell their parents. He claims he never hurt them physically, but now he realizes he hurt them mentally and emotionally,” the court said.

The court sentenced the defendant to 20 years imprisonment for each rape charge, but ordered that the sentences be served concurrently. It also ordered that he be placed on the National Sex Offenders Registry.