Man gets two life sentences for rape and murder of young stepdaughter

The Johannesburg high court has sentenced a 34-year-old Eldorado Park man to two life sentences for raping and murdering his partner’s four-year-old daughter in August last year, describing his conduct as extremely brutal and finding that he posed a danger to the community.

The court has also ordered that his name be added to the national register for sex offenders.

He was convicted of the rape and murder of his four-year-old stepdaughter following a brutal assault in August 2025.

The co-accused, who is the mother of the deceased, faces charges of failing to report the abuse and sexual offences.

Her case was separated from the man’s case, and her trial is expected to be heard in 2027.

A community leader and women’s and children’s rights activist, Cheryl Pillay, welcomed the sentence and said it would send a strong message to other perpetrators.

“It’s quite fitting for the crime, and not that it’s going to bring her back, but I think it sends out a strong message,” she said.

“I think it’s a very important message to say that, as a country and even as the justice system and community, we cannot tolerate these heinous crimes against our children — we need to protect them. It’s very, very important. We won’t leave any stone unturned to make sure that justice is served for our children,” she said.

Pillay also believes this will be an eye-opener for communities to look out for their children.

“The care of children is the responsibility of everyone. It really sends out the message, especially looking at a four-year-old and what happened in a yard where there were many other people. It’s important that we look out for children. It’s our responsibility,” she said.