Latest news with #NatashaRamkisson-Kara
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Father sentenced to life for raping son over two years
A 38-year-old father has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the repeated rape of his biological son over a two-year period, shedding light on the alarming issue of child abuse within families. Image: Pixabay/File A 38-year-old father will serve life behind bars after he was sentenced for repeatedly raping his biological son between 2019 and 2021. This week the Madadeni Regional Court sentenced the father who perpetrated the crimes at Madadeni, in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the boy lived with both his parents and brother. 'The accused raped the complainant on diverse occasions when his mother was not around. At some point, the complainant, his mother, and his brother went to live with the mother's family. While living there, the accused would fetch the children and their mother for visits. During this time, the accused continued to rape the complainant. 'The matter eventually came to light when the complainant's teacher noticed a change in the child's behaviour and asked him what was going on. He then told her that his father had been raping him for some time. The teacher then informed the school principal and the complainant's family,' said Ramkisson-Kara. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The boy was taken to a nearby clinic where the doctor confirmed his injuries. The matter was reported to the police, and the accused was arrested. 'In court, prosecutor Cindy Alberts presented the evidence of the first report, including the schoolteacher and the doctor who examined the complainant. The doctor told the court that the physical injuries sustained by the complainant due to the rape will have lifelong effects. 'In aggravation of the sentence, Alberts led the evidence of the complainant's aunt who told the court that since the incidents, the complainant has become withdrawn and unhappy and is afraid of the accused,' said Ramkisson-Kara. Reacting to the sentence, Ilitha Labantu's Siyabulela Monakali said they welcomed the punishment and commended the victim for speaking out. 'As an organisation that has worked for more than three decades to combat gender-based violence and violence against children, Ilitha Labantu remains deeply disturbed by the persistent reality of sexual abuse within family structures. We welcome the court's decision and regard this outcome as a step toward justice for the survivor and his family. We commend the courage of the child in speaking out, and the vigilance of the teacher who acted with care and urgency. These are the acts that interrupt silence and disrupt the cycle of abuse,' said Monakali.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Father sentenced to life in jail for raping biological son
The man raped his son between 2019 and 2021. A 38-year-old KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) father has been sentenced to life in jail for raping his son. The man, whose identity is being protected to protect the victim's (age not disclosed), appeared in the Madadeni Regional Court on Tuesday. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the man raped his son between 2019 and 2021. Trial NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said during the trial, state prosecutor Cindy Alberts presented the evidence of the first report, including the schoolteacher and the doctor who examined the complainant. 'The doctor told the court that the physical injuries sustained by the complainant due to the rape will have lifelong effects. In aggravation of the sentence, Ms. Alberts led the evidence of the complainant's aunt, who told the court that since the incidents, the complainant has become withdrawn and unhappy and is afraid of the accused,' Ramkisson-Kara said. ALSO READ: Security officer sentenced to life for raping teen in Roodepoort 'In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered that the accused's name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. He was found unsuitable to work with children. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm.' Rape Ramkisson-Kara said the rape came to light while the man's son was living together with both his parents and his brother. 'The accused raped the complainant on diverse occasions when his mother was not around. At some point, the complainant, his mother, and his brother went to live with the mother's family. 'Whilst living there, the accused would fetch the children and their mother for visits. During this time, the accused continued to rape the complainant,' Ramkisson-Kara said. Arrest The matter eventually came to light when the victim's teacher noticed a change in his behaviour and asked him what was going on. 'He then told her that his father had been raping him for some time. The teacher then informed the school principal and the complainant's family. The complainant was taken to a nearby clinic where the doctor confirmed his injuries. The matter was reported to the police, and the accused was arrested.' Ramkisson-Kara said. The NPA welcomed the finalisation of the matter and remains resolute in its 'pursuit of justice' on behalf of the victims of child abuse. 'We will continue to protect the rights and dignity of children,' Ramkisson-Kara said. ALSO READ: Online dating site serial rapist and murderer arrested in Limpopo
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- The Citizen
4 life terms for KZN rapist father
The eShowe Regional Court in KZN this week sentenced a 41-year-old man to four terms of life imprisonment for the rape of his four young children in the Hluhluwe area. Zululand Observer reports that the offences took place between 2015 and 2019 when the children were aged between two and eight years old. The accused lived with the children and their mother, and raped them when their mother was not at home. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) KZN regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says the children testified that they would be playing outside, and the accused would call them into the house and rape them. 'He threatened them so they would not report him. The matter was eventually reported by the children's mother after she observed injuries to their genitals. The accused was arrested at their home in Hluhluwe,' she says. Ramkisson-Kara says the accused pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations against him. In the state's case, the prosecutor, Kacey Pillay, led the testimonies of the children, where three of them mentioned that they were raped on various occasions. Since the children's mother died before the start of the trial, Pillay made an application to the court in terms of Section 3(1)(c) of the Hearsay Evidence Act to have the mother's statements admitted into the record. 'An eyewitness' testimony corroborated the mother's statement. The J88 medical records, confirming the sexual abuse of all the children, were also handed in to the court. 'In aggravation of sentence, the state handed in victim impact statements compiled by the children and facilitated by court preparation officer Amanda Pretty Nxumalo. One child said she used to be happy and play a lot, but now she is sad. She said she is untrusting of male persons. 'Another child said the accused's actions have negatively affected him, and he is angry all the time. One of the children said he hates the accused for what he did to them,' she said. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for each count of rape. In addition, the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
25-06-2025
- The Citizen
4 life terms for rapist father
The eShowe Regional Court this week sentenced a 41-year-old man to four terms of life imprisonment for the rape of his four young children in the Hluhluwe area. The offences took place between 2015 and 2019 when the children were aged between two and eight years old. ALSO READ: WATCH: DA in KZN marches to eSikhawini SAPS over rape of schoolgirl (6) The accused lived with the children and their mother, and raped them when their mother was not at home. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) KZN regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the children testified that they would be playing outside, and the accused would call them into the house and rape them. 'He threatened them so they would not report him. The matter was eventually reported by the children's mother after she observed injuries to their genitals. The accused was arrested at their home in Hluhluwe,' she said. Ramkisson-Kara said the accused pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations against him. ALSO READ: Rape suspect outsmarts police In the State's case, the prosecutor, Kacey Pillay, led the testimonies of the children, where three of them mentioned that they were raped on various occasions. Since the children's mother died before the start of the trial, Pillay made an application to the court in terms of Section 3(1)(c) of the Hearsay Evidence Act to have the mother's statements admitted onto the record. 'An eyewitness' testimony corroborated the mother's statement. The J88 medical records, confirming the sexual abuse of all the children, were also handed in to the court. 'In aggravation of sentence, the State handed in victim impact statements compiled by the children and facilitated by court preparation officer Amanda Pretty Nxumalo. One child said she used to be happy and play a lot, but now she is sad. She said she is untrusting of male persons. 'Another child said the accused's actions have negatively affected him, and he is angry all the time. One of the children said he hates the accused for what he did to them,' she said. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for each count of rape. In addition, the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- The Citizen
Man sentenced to life in prison for rape of 64-year-old KZN woman
Man sentenced to life in prison for rape of 64-year-old KZN woman A 38-year-old man was recently sentenced to life imprisonment in the Scottburgh Regional Court for the rape of an elderly woman in KwaCele. According to South Coast Herald, the man cannot be named to protect the victim's identity. The 64-year-old woman was asleep in her home on January 18, 2023, when she felt a presence in her room and woke up. The accused grabbed her and used his hand to cover her mouth to stop her from screaming. 'He told her that he would do as he pleased, and thereafter, he would give her R200,' said NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara. 'He overpowered the complainant and raped her.' The woman's screams alerted her daughter, who confronted the rapist. He then fled the scene by climbing through the bedroom window. The victim and her daughter were able to identify the man, and he was arrested shortly after at his home. Prosecutor Thanusha Govender told the court that the circumstances of the offence were inhumane. 'The complainant had a right to feel safe in the sanctity of her own home. However, the accused invaded her privacy.' Govender submitted the J88 medical form and a DNA analysis report as evidence. The man was convicted and also declared unfit to possess a firearm. The NPA welcomed the life sentence, stating that elderly persons are protected by legislation due to their vulnerability and have the right to live in a peaceful and safe environment. 'The NPA is committed to ensuring that justice is served, particularly in cases involving crimes against the most vulnerable members of our society – our elderly,' said Ramkisson-Kara. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
