Three life terms for paedophile who groomed, abused girls in Free State - TimesLIVE

A 37-year-old man who raped and sexually abused children to make and sell pornography has been sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment.

Christiaan Francisco Fortleza van der Linde, from Welkom in the Free State, was convicted on 119 charges involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of three minor children over several years.

He was sentenced by the Welkom regional court, sitting as a designated Sexual Offences Court, after pleading guilty to charges including rape, sexual grooming of children, creation and distribution of child pornography, kidnapping of a minor and attempted murder.

The offences, which occurred between 2015 and 2024, involved a disturbing pattern, NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said.

He gained access to his first victim, from the age of 12, through a position of trust. “Between 2015 and 2020, he repeatedly groomed, sexually assaulted, exploited and raped the child. He further subjected the victim to sexually degrading acts and used her to create child sexual abuse material, which he subsequently sold and distributed through a pornographic website.”

Between 2022 and 2024, he targeted a second victim, from when she was 11 years old. “Once again, he exploited a relationship of trust to gain access to the child before subjecting the victim to repeated grooming, sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape. He also created child sexual abuse material involving the victim.

”When these offences came to light, the accused trafficked and kidnapped the second victim and attempted to murder the child in an incident involving an attempted murder-suicide.

“The accused also manipulated and instructed the child to create child sexual abuse material involving a third minor victim, without the third child’s knowledge. The material was subsequently found in the accused’s possession.”

Senokoatsane said Van der Linde had tried to damage electronic devices and destroy evidence.

During sentencing proceedings, prosecutor Elma van Niekerk said Van der Linde had demonstrated a sustained pattern of calculated and manipulative behaviour directed at children over an extended period. He deliberately exploited relationships of trust to gain access to his victims, subjecting them to repeated sexual abuse and exploitation.

Senokoatsane said the prosecution raised serious concerns about the whereabouts of the intimate photographs and videos created by Van der Linde. “This raises the possibility that the material could still be circulating, exposing the victims to further victimisation and prolonging their trauma.”

In aggravation of sentence, the state presented victim impact statements compiled by court preparation officer Rosie Dube. The statements detailed the profound emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the victims and their families. Two of the victims had become suicidal as a consequence of the abuse and continued to suffer severe trauma.

Senokoatsane said: “This successful prosecution demonstrates the NPA’s commitment to protecting children from sexual predators and ensuring that those who exploit their vulnerability and abuse positions of trust face the full consequences of the law.”