MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPING GIRLFRIEND’S NIECE
The Cala regional court sentenced Mzwanele Michael Eleni (63), to life imprisonment for raping his live-in girlfriend’s niece. The victim, who was orphaned at an early age, was fostered by her paternal aunt who was in a romantic relationship with Eleni. They stayed at one homestead in the Lupapasi area in Cala, where the abuse occurred for years during the victim’s upbringing. The victim reported the abuse to her paternal aunt, however, a family meeting was held where it was decided to keep these allegations a secret.
The abuse went on for a while even after the family meeting was held, until the NPA’s Community Prosecution Initiative (CPI) representative was invited to present at an awareness event held at Lupapasi in 2023, attended by the then 14-year-old victim. After she learnt that she could open a case, she reported the rape to her uncle, which ultimately led to a case being opened and Eleni arrested. The victim was moved from her paternal aunt’s home to live with another adult relative.
Acting Regional Court prosecutor Odwa Mmeli led the evidence of three witnesses, the victim, her uncle, and the paternal aunt, who claimed that she initially did not believe the victim. The victim testified with the assistance of an intermediary. The accused denied the allegations and told the court that the victim had been influenced by her uncle because he did not approve of the relationship he had with her aunt.
During sentencing, the defence argued that because Eleni was an elderly person, that amounted to compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum sentence. However, the court agreed with prosecutor’s submission that the prolonged period of abuse and the convict’s taking advantage of an orphaned child, coupled with his lack of remorse, justified the imposition of the life sentence.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Barry Madolo noted that the CPI’s role in educating the public, and interventions where appropriate, is making the desired impact in the communities.
