Three life terms for rapist of child, 10

Judge outlines devastating effect of triple assault on girl

The words “humiliating” and “degrading” echoed in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday, as a child rapist was sentenced to three life terms of imprisonment.

Ntobeko Festile, 23, of Kwa-Nobuhle, who raped a young girl in a Uitenhage church yard in 2014, cracked his knuckles and swayed from side to side as Judge Sithembele Mgxaji handed down the sentence.

Festile, a mechanic and voluntary Tae-Bo trainer for seven years, had earlier told a probation officer that he did not feel obliged to sympathise with his 10year-old victim.

The petite, emotional girl had earlier told the court through an intermediary how she had been playing with friends at a traditional ceremony on September 20 2014 when a stranger – Festile – convinced her to leave with him.

He took her to the Methodist Church yard in Alexander Street, not far from her home, where he raped her three times.

After threatening her life if she told anyone about the incident, he let the girl go.

She was bruised and bleeding when she returned home later.

He had also tripped her and tried to strangle her.

She ultimately reported the incident to her grandmother.