In a recent court ruling at Atlantis Magistrate's Court, a pastor has been handed a prison sentence for sexually molesting a young girl when she was only six years old.
The accused, Aubrey Jooste, initially faced charges of rape and indecent assault, but he was ultimately acquitted of the rape charge.
However, he has now been sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment, which came as a shock to Jooste when court officials led him away to the holding cells.
The victim, now 31 years old, had previously spoken to IOL, expressing her desire for the perpetrator to face jail time for the immense damage he caused in her life.
During the time of the assault, Jooste lived just two doors away from his victim and was acquainted with her parents.
The young woman shared that her parents allowed her to spend nights at Jooste's house because she was friends with his daughter, who was a few years older than her.
Overjoyed by the court's decision, the woman expressed her satisfaction, stating, "I feel good. I'm definitely satisfied. Those five years are much better than the fine he wanted to pay. Now, I can stand tall and not be ashamed of what he did to me. The court took both my well-being and the perpetrator into consideration when determining the sentence."
She also extended her gratitude to the court, the magistrate, and the prosecutor, Mrs. Snyman, for their unwavering commitment to the case despite multiple attempts by the defense to derail it over the years.
Throughout the court proceedings, the victim and her family received support from Janine Passenz, representing the Survivors Haven Foundation.
This organization focuses on advocating against gender-based violence, providing victim support, and promoting youth development in the Atlantis, Mamre, and surrounding areas.
Passenz, speaking to IOL, expressed their satisfaction with the sentencing, emphasizing that a suspended sentence would not serve justice for such a serious crime.
The survivor finally received the justice she had fought for over many years, and this should serve as encouragement for other victims to come forward and seek support rather than suffer in silence.
Passenz concluded by highlighting that gender-based violence will be a priority in all courts, and the organization will continue to advocate until justice is achieved for all victims.
Recalling the traumatic events to IOL, the survivor shared that the accused would come home during his lunch hour every day after school and subject her to watching pornography.
Jooste proceeded to engage in inappropriate acts, such as licking her private parts and pressuring her to reciprocate, which she refused.
However, she was coerced into kissing his private parts and playing with them until he ejaculated.
It was during her high school years when a friend confided in her about a similar ordeal that she found the strength to speak out about her own experience.
Together, they decided to approach their teacher and disclose everything.
The teacher was obligated to inform the principal, who subsequently opened a case at the police station.
The survivor was around 14 or 15 years old at the time the case was filed.
The traumatic experience caused her to lose faith in men and led her to proudly identify as a lesbian.
The scars left by the abuser and the insecurities he instilled in her caused deep-rooted trust issues and intimacy struggles.
It took her several years to begin to let go of these burdens, and she only started to address them about five years ago.
She described the overwhelming sense of isolation during that time, sharing, "I felt terrible. Everyone looked at me as if I were at fault. Aside from my family, I had no support from anyone else."
To protect her family from further harm, they had to leave their congregation as the abuser was a priest in their church.
The courageous survivor's story serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking justice and support for victims of abuse.
It also highlights the significance of organizations like Survivors Haven Foundation, who tirelessly advocate against gender-based violence, provide assistance to survivors, and work towards empowering the youth in the Atlantis, Mamre, and surrounding areas.
This case sends a clear message to perpetrators that gender-based violence will not be tolerated, and courts will prioritize these matters.
As the survivor and her family embark on the healing process, they hope their story will encourage others to come forward, break the silence, and seek the justice and support they deserve.
Source - iol.com
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