20-year-old Newcastle man sentenced to double life for raping nieces
A Newcastle man sentenced to double life imprisonment for the horrific rapes of his two young nieces, bringing a measure of justice to a devastated community.
Image: stock image
The Newcastle Magistrate’s Court has handed down a double life sentence to a 20‑year‑old man who was found guilty of raping his two nieces at their home in Springboklaagte, within the Dannhauser policing precinct in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, police spokesperson, said the man first targeted his 10‑year‑old niece in July 2023, when he raped her on three separate occasions, threatening to kill her if she revealed the abuse.
Netshiunda said that after the young girl endured the third rape ordeal, she eventually found the courage to confide in her elders, who immediately reported the matter to the police.
Further investigations uncovered another case involving the same uncle. On the evening of March 3, 2024, he allegedly forced himself on his 12‑year‑old niece inside the family home.
"Investigations also uncovered that the same uncle was the suspect in another case of rape in which he raped his 12-year-old niece at the same place," said Netshiunda.
"She was taken to a medical facility, and a rape was confirmed. His name will also be engraved on the National Register for Sex Offenders," said Netshiunda.