MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF A MINOR
The eMalahleni Regional Court convicted and sentenced Patrick Nyaisi Mtsweni (49) to life imprisonment rape of a minor (14). On the evening of 04 November 2014, the complaint was accosted by an unknown person whilst walking towards her aunt’s place at extension 8, Klarinet. The unknown man grabbed her, strangled her, and pushed her into the bushes. He instructed the victim to take off her clothes when she refused, he tore off her clothes, pushed her to the ground and raped her. Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused in 2023 after DNA linked him to the offence.
In court, Mtsweni pleaded guilty to the charge and was subsequently found guilty as charged. In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor Ellen Mafata argued that the accused pleaded guilty because of the overwhelming evidence the state had against him and addressed the court about the scourge of gender-based violence asking the court to impose a sentence as prescribed by the law. Prosecutor Mafata further handed in the complainant’s victim impact statement prepared by Court Preparation Officer Musa Mkhatshwa. She indicated that she feels like a heavy load has been taken off her shoulders, which she has been carrying all these years.
Magistrate Combrinck found no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the ordained sentence. Mtsweni was sentenced to life imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused ‘s name be registered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders, unfit to work with children should he be released on parole one day and was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA welcomes the sentence.
