A 60-year-old man from Heiderand was jailed in the Mossel Bay Regional Court on Monday for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl.
The incident happened in July last year.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Francis Makhamandela said that the accused had tried his best to downplay the offense and maintained that the offense was not something major as he only touched the victim's private parts.
She said the fact that the child was not raped does not make the offense any less serious.
Makhamandela said the accused could not give the court a reason for his actions and showed no remorse.
She said the accused is 60-years-old and had a responsibility to protect the child.
The accused was sentenced to three years imprisonment and his name will be added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
