HEFTY SENTENCES FOR RAPE OF MINOR
The KwaDukuza Regional Court sentenced two men aged 25 years and 28 years old to life and 18 years imprisonment respectively, for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in July 2018, in the Nonoti area. On the day of the incident, the girl went with her younger cousin to her granny’s house where she met the two men who were known to her. They asked the younger child to stay outside the house while they kept the girl inside and took a turn to rape her. One of them threatened to kill her if she disclosed what had happened. She was afraid to report the matter but eventually reported it to someone at her church. The matter was brought to her mother’s attention and the police were involved. The men were arrested and the girl was able to positively identify both of them. The girl was taken to the KwaDukuza Thuthuzela Care Centre where she received medical and psycho-social assistance.
In court, the state led the medical evidence of the doctor who examined the girl as well as the testimonies of the girl, her mother and the first report. The matter was successfully prosecuted by Regional Court Prosecutors Joseph Titus and Nokwanda Mthembu. The 25-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment as he was out on parole for murder at the time of the incident. The court sentenced the 28-year-old man to 18 years imprisonment, deviating from the minimum sentence for various reasons. As part of the sentencing, the court deemed them unfit to possess a firearm and an order was made that their names are entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes this sentence as it affirms our stance on the abuse of children. We commend the efforts of the prosecution and the police.
