A 53-year-old father discovered messages of a sexual nature between his daughter and her alleged boyfriend, twice her age, on her phone in July 2022.

According to police spokesperson Ikobeng Hlubi, upon seeing these messages on 2 July 2022, which clearly showed that his daughter had been engaging in sexual activities, the father saw it fit to report the incident at the Bloemspruit Police Station.

“Following the report, Tshepo Mmatli (30) was arrested the next day at his house in the Phase 5 Bloemspruit area of Bloemfontein. The accused attended trial until his freedom was cut short on Tuesday 29 August when the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment for statutory rape,” said Hlubi.

Hlubi added that Mmatli’s name will also be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders, which prohibits him from working with children.

Compiled by Justine Fortuin