“Life sentence for convicted sexual offenders are not merely a punishment for destroying someone’s future. Soon we will be celebrating Mandela day and our current situation does not reflect the legacy of freedom and safety our beloved former president dreamt of for this country.”
This disappointed reaction from Action Society comes after a life term was ordered on Tuesday by the Mhala Regional Court for the 31-year-old man accused of raping his stepdaughter. The rape occurred in 2018 in a village near Bushbuckridge.
The sexual offender ordered his 4-year-old stepdaughter to stand guard while raping her 7-year-old sister. The ordeal was later uncovered by neighbours when they’ve noticed the girl limping as she was walking back home from school. According to magistrate Annemarie Theron the man showed no remorse during sentencing and denied the harm he had done to the girl. Apart from the emotional damage she is suffering from urinary incontinence as a result of the rape.
“How can a possible 25 years in jail justify this devastating act? We are calling for harsher sentences,” says Daleen Gouws, spokesperson of the civil rights organisation.
In light of Mandela Day — celebrated on 18 July — Action Society is pleading for 67 days without abuse. A woman is killed every three hours in South Africa and over 110 cases of rape are reported daily.
“Interpol claims that a woman born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped than learning to read. Monstrous perpetrators, like this stepdad who was supposed to safeguard his children, needs to be held accountable for their actions.”Action Society demands the National Prosecuting Authority to review the sentences for convicted sexual offenders. “Nelson Mandela’s life is celebrated annually by voluntarily committing 67 minutes of your time. We request that sentences for these intentionally malicious offenders are increased to an appropriate 67 years,” says Gouws.
Furthermore Action Society urges our government to publish the names of convicted sexual offenders on the national register for sex offenders (NRSO) and to make the list publicly available. “If we can’t know who they are, then they should be in prison for life. We can’t have them in our society.”
Action Society calls on the public to sign their petition (www.actionsociety.co.za/national-register) and request the President to address this distressing issue as soon as possible.
ISSUED BY: Action Society
DATE: 11 JULY 2020
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Daleen Gouws,
Spokesperson: Action Society,
Cell: 0812338351
