Rapist neighbour sentenced to life imprisonment
In aggravation of sentence, Govender mentioned that the accused’s actions have had life-altering consequences on the complainant, both emotionally and psychologically.
The Scottburgh Regional Court sentenced a 38-year-old man to a term of life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in November 2022 in the Nkonka settlement of Umzinto. The complainant was 12-years-old at the time.
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The complainant and the accused were known to each other, and they lived in the same area. On November 12, 2022, he asked her to fetch water for him from a nearby river and said he would pay her R20 in return.
When she returned with the bucket of water, he pulled her into his room and shut the door, preventing her from leaving. He tied her hands to the bed and raped her. The accused threatened to kill her family members if she reported the incident to anyone.
Thereafter, he let her go home, where she reported the incident to her grandmother and uncle.
Regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said, “The accused was subsequently arrested when the complainant pointed him out. In the state’s case, Thanusha Govender led the testimonies of the complainant, her grandmother, and her uncle. In aggravation of sentence, Govender mentioned that the accused’s actions have had life-altering consequences on the complainant, both emotionally and psychologically. The accused was sentenced accordingly, and the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm. In addition, the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and the National Child Protection Register.”
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The NPA hopes that sentences of this nature demonstrate its commitment to the fight against sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
