KZN woman found guilty of raping nephew

Durban - A 49-year-old Phoenix woman was convicted and sentenced on Thursday to an effective 18 years imprisonment for raping her nephew.

The sentence was handed down in the Verulam Magistrate's Court, police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said in a statement.

Naicker said the incidents took place during 2012 and 2013 when the victim was only 14 years old.

The victim’s mother had become suspicious and when she confronted the victim, he said he had been raped by his aunt.

A case was opened at Phoenix SAPS and subsequently handed over to the Phoenix Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

Detectives were able to gather sufficient evidence to secure a successful conviction.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the Phoenix FCS Unit for the arrest of the suspect.

“It is extremely crucial that community members pay attention to small details relating to our children and if we are more observant we will be able to detect abuse in its early stages.

"It's very unfortunate that as parents we cannot trust anyone when it comes to our children's welfare,” she said.