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A man found guilty of raping a three-year-old girl was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court in Johannesburg, Beeld
reported on Wednesday.
Judge George Maluleke on Tuesday rejected argument from Mathys Van Zyl's lawyer that it was less serious for an adult to rape a
child with his fingers and not his penis, and that he should get a lower sentence.
Maluleke said it was unlikely that Van Zyl, 46, could be rehabilitated. He had shown no remorse and had a previous
conviction for sexual assault.
His name would be placed on the sex offenders' register.
The toddler was raped in a bathroom in September 2013 at a day mother's flat while her divorced mother worked late. On the day of
the rape Van Zyl minded the toddler and her twin sisters while the day mother and her husband fetched takeaways. The two girls looked
into the bathroom and saw the rape.
