A 43-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, 14 February 2026, following allegations that he raped his 15-year-old stepdaughter several times within the Steiloop Gilead policing precinct in Limpopo.
According to provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwabapolice, the teenager informed her mother on Wednesday, 12 February 2026, that her stepfather had allegedly raped her repeatedly since 27 December 2025, with the most recent incident reported to have occurred on 31 January 2026.
“It is alleged that the victim’s mother was scared to report her husband to the police,” said Ledwaba.
The matter was subsequently reported to a relative of the victim, who immediately alerted authorities. A rape case was registered, and police launched an investigation and tracing operation.
The suspect was located and apprehended at his residence in the Rebone RDP Section 2 in the early hours of Saturday.
He is expected to appear before the Gilead Periodical Court on Monday, 16 February 2026, where he will face a charge of rape.
Police investigations are continuing.
In December, IOL reported that a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sibasa Regional Court for raping his 13-year-old daughter while they were living in Phiphidi village, outside Thohoyandou.
The rapist’s identity is withheld to protect the child. The court also ordered that his name be added to the National Sexual Offenders Register.Â
According to Mashudu Malabi, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, the man brought his daughter from Zimbabwe on 1 August 2020 to spend the school holidays with him in South Africa.
“On their arrival in the Limpopo province at Phiphidi Village, the accused began to have sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent. He further instructed her to remain silent and threatened to leave her in South Africa if she told anyone. The accused would not allow the victim to play with other children,” said Malabi.
“The neighbour with whom they were staying at their rental place noticed the child’s unusual behaviour. She then informed the police. After thorough police investigations, the accused was arrested, and the minor victim was referred to Tshilidzini Thuthuzela Care Centre.”
During trial, in aggravation of the sentence, the state advocate, Rabelani Makhera, presented the Victim Impact Report compiled by state official Mulondo Ganuku. The report detailed the impact of the incident on the minor victim, particularly because the accused is her biological father.
The state further emphasised the gravity of the offence, the vulnerability of the rape victim, and the betrayal of trust by the accused, who abused his position of authority and the principle of Ubuntu. The state concluded by submitting that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
The NPA in Limpopo has welcomed the ruling.
IOL News Â
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
Â
Jonisayi Maromo
iol.co.za
