Uncle claims niece raped him

Gofamodimo Tautsagae, 54 who is charged with raping his then 15-year-old niece, appeared for trial before Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi. While under cross-examination from Gaobone Othata of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Tautsagae told the court of the incident.

He said that there was nobody home that day when his niece who was doing Standard 7 at Phatsimo Primary School arrived from school. He claimed that his niece dragged him to his bedroom where she unbuttoned his shirt, unzipped his trousers and asked him to have sex with her. Asked to clarify his statement, Tautsagae told the court that his niece overpowered him. Othata asked the accused why he did not report the matter to the police, Tautsagae responded: “I did not expect something unnatural like this to happen. I was shocked. I thought she would not tell anyone what happened.” Othata then told Tautsagae that he was playing victim in the charges knowing very well that he raped the complainant.