RAPIST GETS TWO LIFE SENTENCES AND 50 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
The Durban High Court has sentenced a 26-year-old man to two terms of life and 50 years imprisonment, following his guilty plea to three counts of rape, housebreaking with intent to rape and murder. The offences took place in Stanger and Kwa Maphumulo from June 2020 to April 2021. In one incident, the man approached the complainant who was known to him. He told her that her mother was ill and that he would accompany her to her mother. On the way, he raped her. In the other instance, he broke into the home of the complainant, raped her and fled.
The complainants were taken to the Thuthuzela Care Centre at Stanger hospital where they received psycho-social and medical assistance. The third incident was when he went to the home of the nine-year-old victim, saying that he was robbed and needed assistance. Since the family knew him they allowed him in and he went on to rape and strangle the child. The man then fled to Ntuzuma where he committed rape once more, this time he was accosted by members of the public who assaulted him and called the police. Whilst on trial at Ntuzuma, he was charged with the offences at Stanger and Kwa Maphumulo. He was linked by DNA and some of the victims identified him as they knew him.
In aggravation of sentence, State Adv. Bonginkosi (Bonga) Mbokazi, handed in the Victim Impact Statement compiled by the two complainants and the aunt of the deceased child and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nadi Ngcobo. One complainant said that she so was scared to stay at home during the night that she would go with her boyfriend to work when he worked the night shift. The other complainant said that being at home reminds them of the incident. The child’s aunt said that she cared for the child as her sister (the child’s mother had passed away). She said she felt as if she had failed them both. She said that she was on medication to deal with her stress and depression.
The man was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for the rape and murder of the child, 20 years imprisonment each for the other two counts of rape and 10 years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rape. He will effectively serve life imprisonment.
The NPA welcomes the sentence and we commend the work done by the Prosecution and Police, in securing this conviction. Sentences of this nature are indicative of our dedication to fighting crime, moreover gender-based violence.
