MAN SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPING A MINOR
The Maluti Regional Court has sentenced Sinethemba Nkomentaba (33), to two life imprisonment for the rape of a 10-year-old girl. The rapes were committed in 2018 and 2019. Nkomentaba stayed in the neighbourhood of Ntlola location, Mvenyane area in the district of Matatiele and is related to the victim’s parents. On one Sunday 2018, the victim’s grandparents went to church, but the victim did not go as she was not feeling well. Nkomentaba arrived as she was watching TV, took her to one of the bedrooms and raped her. He then threatened her not to report this to anyone. In 2019 the victim went to the Nkomentaba’s homestead to see her friends when she was called to the room by him, saying he wanted to send her to the shop. When the victim entered, he grabbed her and raped her before threatening her with death if she reported.
The victim reported this to her cousin in 2022, and the case was opened. The accused pleaded not guilty, denying that he raped the victim. The Regional Court Prosecutor Lubabalo Msongelwa led evidence of the victim and three other witnesses. Regional Court Magistrate Nombuso Nqwenani, found the accused guilty of two counts of rape and found that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances, justifying deviation from a prescribed minimum sentence of life for each rape.
Accepting the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the prosecutor and the investigating officer for their meticulous collection and presentation of evidence.
