Qunisela Gumede was sentenced on Friday last week for the rape of a seven-year-old and nine-year-old, spokeswoman Natasha Kara said in a statement.

A man was sentenced to two life tems by the Scottburgh Regional Court after pleading guilty to two counts of rape, the KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority said on Monday.

Qunisela Gumede was sentenced on Friday last week for the rape of a seven-year-old and nine-year-old, spokeswoman Natasha Kara said in a statement.

"The incident occurred in 2012 when the accused called one of the girls into his rondavel to dish food for him. He raped her and then gave her money to buy sweets," Kara said in a statement.

"Her sister (the second complainant) was standing in the doorway and witnessed what had happened. She was raped by the accused on another occasion."

He said the complainant told her teacher what had happened and the police were alerted.

Gumede initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but changed his plea after the first complainant testified, she said.

She said the defence argued for the court to deviate from the minimum sentence applicable on the grounds that the accused had changed his plea.

"However, regional court prosecutor Kogilum Naick argued at length, citing various case laws about the seriousness of the offence. A social worker's report was also handed in," she said.

"Naick alerted the court to the fact that the children were blamed for the accused's incarceration. They were constantly abused by their grandfather who blamed them when he was drunk."

Kara said Gumede was given a life sentence on each count and the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.