Pietermaritzburg Regional Court convicted and sentenced Mzwandile Gwala to 16 years imprisonment for raping a 10 year old victim. The man, Mzwandile Gwala (23) was convicted on 28 January 2018 after the magistrate heard how he raped the victim last year.
On 24 December 2017, the victim was walking at Peacevalley area on her way to a nearby shop when she was approached by the accused. She was dragged to a nearby railway line where she was raped.
She cried for help and eventually reported the matter to her mother at home. A case of rape was opened at Taylors Halt police station and it was transferred to Plessisslaer Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.
The accused was arrested and charged with rape. He appeared in court and bail was successfully opposed.
In another incident of rape, Sthabiso Shezi (27) was sentenced to a total of 16 years for rape and theft by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court. He raped a 30 year old woman at Bulwer area at knife point in 2014. Her cellphone was also taken away by the accused. A case of rape and theft was opened at Bulwer police station.
The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the sentence handed down to both accused.
“Our Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units will make sure that they thoroughly investigate such cases and arrest the perpetrators. We cannot tolerate culprits to terrorize our vulnerable women and children. I encourage all victims of violent crimes to report such incidents to the police,” he said.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
