MBABANE – A 20-year-old man by the name of Christopher Gama arrested for impregnating a 16-year-old said she concealed her real age from him.
“She never told me her real age. I had no idea she was only 16 – she doesn’t even look like sixteen years old,” Gama of Nyonyane said.
Gama appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with violating the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018, following his arrest last week.
Gama told Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi that the minor was his girlfriend and that, unaware she was underage, they would occasionally have sexual intercourse for an undisclosed duration.
However, the minor fell pregnant. It occurred that Gama’s involvement with the minor was reported to the police by her parents
The prosecution raised that extenuating circumstances in Gama’s case exist. He did not use protection, the prosecution said, thereby exposing the minor to potential sexually transmitted infections.
Although the relationship appeared consensual, the girl’s age made the sexual activity illegal under the SODV Act which prohibits sexual involvement with anyone under 18, regardless of consent.
Gama, who is yet to be sentenced, mitigated his crime. He appeared remorseful. He insisted he did not know she was a minor. He also stated that he had once narrowly escaped assault by members of the community who were enraged upon discovering the relationship.
Despite his plea and expression of regret, the court maintained that ignorance of a partner’s age is not a strong defence.
Nhlabatsi said there was seriousness in the offence, particularly the risk posed to the girl’s health and wellbeing.
Gama is remanded in custody and is expected to return to court on 8 August 2025. Judgment was set for September 11, 2025.
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