/ 3 December 2001

CHILD MINDER SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE

THE former manager of the Johannesburg Children’s Home, James Frazer (65) was sentenced on Monday to an effective 12 years imprisonment by the Johannesburg Regional Court for indecent assault and raping a child who was under his care. Magistrate JJ Van Vuuren said Frazer knew the girl who came from ”horrendous home circumstances and regarded him as her father, yet he took advantage of her to satisfy his cravings”. He said the victim must have felt helpless when she was abused in the ”very place that she was sent to for protection”. The indecent assaults occurred at various times between 1992 and 1996 and the rape occurred in 1996. A total of 15 years was imposed but the court into account that Frazer was 65 years old and reduced the sentence to 12 years. – Sapa