AN ATLANIS oupa who was convicted of raping his niece nearly 40 years ago will spend his golden years in the man after being handed down a 12-year prison straf at the Mitchell’s Plain Regional Court.
Bernard Da Fraetas, 69, was taken into custody on Tuesday after he was convicted one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Da Fraetas was thrust into the spotlight several years ago when his now-52-year-old niece broke her silence on the alleged sex attacks.
She decided to speak up when she learnt her uncle was working as a school staff transport driver.
A rape case was registered at Mitchells Plain SAPS and another relative who was only five years old came forward.
He made his first appearance in court in September 2023 and was granted R1 000 bail as his trial was set down for July 2024.
He returned to court in December last year where he was convicted.
Speaking to the Daily Voice after the sentencing, the victim says she feels relieved that he will finally be made to pay for the heinous crimes which affected her entire life.
She says: "Nobody was allowed in the courtroom for the sentencing, only him and me. The State asked that he be sentenced to 10 years for the rape and five years for each count of sexual assault.
"The Magistrate said he acknowledged the seriousness of the crime, but took his age into consideration and sentenced him to eight years for rape and two years for each count of sexual assault. I was relieved and he kept shaking his head as they took him away."
The victim says after a stressful two years and spending most of her life in fear of the safety of her own children she is now furthering her studies with a new lease on life.
She adds: "For many years nobody believed me and this is why I was so relieved at the judgment.
"Now that he has been sentenced, I can live the life I always wanted to and he must pay for his crimes.
"This case shows that you can get justice regardless of how long ago the incident happened and in the end the courts do listen.
"I hope that in his time in prison he will finally admit his crimes to himself and get the help he needs.
"When I opened the case, I said it was because I wanted to protect children, as he was working with scholar transport and I was worried that other children would be at risk."
