KZN man sentenced to life behind bars for raping teenage relative

A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to life behind bars for raping a 14-year-old relative at gunpoint.

The 44-year-old from Amanzimtoti, on the south coast, appeared in the Durban High Court for sentencing on Thursday.

He was arrested in February after going to the victim's home, claiming he was looking for her grandmother who was not there at the time.

The man later returned and forced his way into the house.

"He forcefully entered the house and threatened the victim with a pistol. He raped the victim and left the house," said police spokesman Lt-Col Thulani Zwane.