NATIONAL NEWS - The victim was returning home from the shop when the accused kidnapped her. He threatened her with a knife and raped her twice.
Afraid that she had done something wrong, the victim did not report the incident to her parents. A few days later, at a function in the area, the accused, while under the influence of alcohol, bragged that he slept with the victim. One of the community members heard this and informed the parents of the victim.
The parents then confronted her and she disclosed the incident. The accused was immediately arrested. In court, the accused pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence with his defence being denial.
He told the court that the victim’s father had concocted this whole version.
However, during cross examination by regional court prosecutor Ishara Sewnarain, he mistakenly placed himself at the scene of the incident and confirmed that he had met the victim during the time of the incident.
Ms Sewnarain led the testimonies of seven people including the victim, her first report and the medical doctor. She also handed in a victim impact statement facilitated by court preparation officer, Bongiwe Qwabe.
Here, the victim stated that she had many nightmares about the incident and is trying hard to overcome this. She has failed her grades because of this. She regrets that “no man will want to pay lobola for her, which is a matter of pride and that the accused should rot in hell for spoiling her”.
The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for each count of rape and five years’ imprisonment for kidnapping. The court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenders.
The director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Adv Elaine Zungu, welcomed the sentence and conviction. She said, “This sentence is indicative of our commitment to the fight against crime, especially now as our country is experiencing a scourge in gender-based violence.”
