Man sentenced to life for rape in KZN
The court also ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The Madadeni Regional Court has sentenced a 41-year-old man, to life imprisonment for the rape of a 31-year-old woman in December 2023, in the Flathela area of Osizweni.
On the evening of the offence, the complainant was at a local tavern with her friend and her friend’s boyfriend.
Around closing time, she noticed the accused walking around collecting beer bottles. Then, when the tavern closed, she and her company left, going in different directions. As the complainant was walking home, she heard someone walking behind her and turned around to see the accused.
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He grabbed her by her hair and told her that she was going home with him, before assaulting her. The accused then dragged the complainant to his house where he raped her through the night.
At some point in the early morning, she tried to escape but the accused woke up and raped her again. The accused eventually let her go and threatened to harm her if she reported him to anyone.
The complainant left and ran to a neighbouring house. She was later taken to the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Madadeni for the necessary assistance, and the accused was subsequently arrested.
Regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said, “In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Simphiwe Scelo Hlela led the testimony of the complainant, as well as the first witness, who was one of the accused’s neighbours. The evidence from the medical doctor also formed part of the state’s case.”
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In her testimony, the complainant told the court that the incident had left her feeling ashamed and afraid. The accused was sentenced accordingly and was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The court also ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
“The NPA welcomes this successful prosecution. We hope that sentences of this nature demonstrate that we and our partners in the justice cluster are serious about fighting the scourge of sexual offences and gender-based violence,” Ramkisson-Kara concluded.
