Cape Town - A nineteen-year-old who was raped by her friend’s uncle said she could finally breathe a sigh of relief as her attacker was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
Mark Ruiters, 38, was sentenced in the Wynberg Regional Court last week.
Caroline Peters from the Callas Foundation in Bridgetown, said activists who walked alongside the teen at every court appearance, celebrated the sentencing.
She said the case dates back to September 2022, when the victim was 17 years old.
“The incident took place in Bridgetown in September 2022.
“The victim had gone to her friend’s house.
“The two girls were friends and he was living on the property.
“At the time she reported that he grabbed her and raped her in a wendy house on the property and she immediately told her mother, who brought her to us.
“We immediately took her to the Thuthuzela Centre and the case was opened.”
She said after Ruiters was arrested, his teen victim faced an onslaught of insults and was also assaulted by younger children relating to him.
“They all said she was lying and they even assaulted her.
“She was in her matric year and we did all we could to provide psychotherapy and support at court.
“I told her she cannot drop out and that by getting up each day and going to school it was the best way to show him the middle finger.
“After months of hard work and no matter what they did she stayed strong and she passed with a Bachelor’s Pass.
“We recruited her immediately to work for Callas and be an inspiration to other victims.”
Peters said they were called to court last month.
“The magistrate gave consideration to the fact that he has children and is the sole breadwinner but said that while he tried to show himself as a loving and caring father he raped a young girl just metres away from where his own children were.
“The case was handled by prosecutor Fazlin Cupido, who did an excellent job in highlighting the wrongs done to the victim.”
Speaking to the Cape Argus this week, the girl said that she was glad the nightmare was over.
“I am just glad the nightmare is over and now I can go on with my life. I was very fearful because he was out on R1 000 bail and now he has finally been locked up.”