A FAMILY FRIEND WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPING A MINOR
The Emalahleni Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Tshepo Veli Mazibuko (30), from Phola to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor aged nine years old in 2017. The accused was a family friend of the victim, on the day of the incident the accused invited the victim and her younger brother from their guardian, under the pretext that they were going to attend his child’s party at his residence.
The accused went to pick them up from their homestead. Upon their arrival at the party, the accused dropped off the victim’s younger brother and requested the victim to accompany him to buy drinks at the shop. Along the way, the accused drove with the victim in a different direction and stopped the vehicle next to a shack near the bushes, and ask the victim to come with him inside. The accused locked the door, undress the victim, and raped her, he then threatened to kill her if she reports and drove back to pick up the younger brother and drop them at their homestead.
In 2019, the social workers visited the victim’s school to address children about the social ills that are happening around them and she reported the rape and her ordeal. Police were alerted, and the accused was arrested.
In court, he denied the allegation leveled against him and State Prosecutor Ellen Mafata, led evidence of the victim, the guardian, and the J88 medical report which confirmed that the victim was raped. Mafata further argued that the court must impose a suitable sentence to address the scourge of gender-based violence. Magistrate Marlene Greyvenstein agreed with the state and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence and commends the good work done by the prosecution and the police.
