Bethlehem: A 38-year-old stepfather from Bethlehem has been sentenced in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court after he pled guilty to charges of sexual grooming involving his stepdaughter.
According to South African Police Service, the sentencing follows an investigation that began on 01 August 2023, after allegations of sexual abuse emerged within the household. The case was reported by the victim’s mother, who is also the complainant, concerning her 14-year-old daughter.
Investigations led by Sergeant Frans Mofokeng uncovered that the suspect, the stepfather of the victim, had been engaging in sexual grooming activities with the 14-year-old since she was 12 years old. This took place between 2021 and 2023 at their home in Bethlehem. It was further revealed that the suspect allegedly forced the victim to view pornographic material.
The victim, aged 14, exhibited changes in her behavior, which prompted a referral to a psychologist. During the sessions, she disclosed the abuse she had endured, prompting the registration of a case while the suspect was in the United States of America.
The stepfather was apprehended on 13 November 2023, upon his return at OR Tambo International Airport. During the trial, the prosecutor, Mr. Nhlapo, stated that the suspect admitted to the charge of sexual grooming. Consequently, he was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison, with half of the sentence suspended for five years.