63 years for 14 charges of child rape

Because of his age, child rapist Achmat Benting will have his sentences run concurrently and spend 25 years in jail.

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Cape Town - Child rapist Achmat Benting has been sentenced to 63 years behind bars.

But because of his age, Judge Ivan Munnick instructed his sentences run concurrently, meaning he will spend 25 years in Pollsmoor Prison.

Benting, 60, stood emotionless in the Mitchells Plain Regional Court as the sentence was handed down on Thursday.

He was convicted in May of 13 of his 14 charges of rape and sexual assault of his Beacon Valley neighbours, aged between 7 and 14 years, between 2010 and 2012.

Judge Munnick said: “He (Benting) even paid for them to keep quiet, by doing so, the accused almost prostituted them by giving them money.

“Here we have an accused who is a sexual predator, who preys on girls.

“It is clear the community needs to be protected and the accused removed.”

Benting’s full sentencing reads as follows:

* For count one of rape of a 14-year-old he received five years.

* Counts two and three, the rape of a 14-year-old, saw him slapped with two 10 year sentences.

* He got two five-year sentences for counts five and six, the sexual assault of a seven-year-old.

* Count seven, sexual assault of a ten-year-old, got him three years.

* He got five years for counts eight and nine, the rape of a ten-year-old.

* Two years for count ten, for sexual assault.

* And he got 15 years for rape charges 11, 12, 13, as they happened in the same time period.

- Count 14, the rape of a ten-year-old victim, saw him get three years.

“If you add it up you will come to 63 years,” explained Munnick.

“Given the accused’s age, the sentences will run concurrently. The accused will spend 25 years behind bars,”

Munnick rejected Benting’s lawyer, William Booth’s request for correctional supervision.

Booth was quick to add his client wanted him to appeal the sentence.

Outside court, the 38-year-old mother of Benting’s ten-year-old twin victims burst into tears at news of the sentence.

“When the judge said he prostituted my children, it brought everything back and it makes me sick to think he used my children,” she cried.

“I am glad justice is served.”

Daily Voice

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