Notorious Nxarhuni serial rapist sentenced to life imprisonment

South African Police Service

Notorious Nxarhuni serial rapist sentenced to life imprisonment
Notorious Nxarhuni serial rapist sentenced to life imprisonment

A 39 year old convicted serial rapist, part time mechanic/ taxi driver from Peddie, Sivuyile Ngqula was sentenced to an effective life imprisonment at Bisho High Court on 14 May 2019.

Delivering the sentence, Judge Belinda Hartley said, “Rape is a prevalent in South Africa and one of the most dangerous crimes. When you rape someone, you rob them of their dignity, security and integrity. You traumatize their families too. A message need to get out to other would rapists that rape shouldn’t be repeated and society can only be protected from rapists through sentencing and imprisonment of rapists.”

Ngqula operated a taxi providing transport services between Peddie, Mdantsane, Nxarhuni area.

He sexually violated a number of innocent women, and as a taxi driver preyed on his commutters. He managed to remain undetectable for a period of two years until his arrest on 9 January 2018, and charged for a series of rapes that occurred between 2014-2016.

Count one he was found guilty for raping a 27 year old woman near NU Mdantsane on 1 January 2014 sentenced to 15 years.
On 29 November 2015 he raped a 65 year old woman from Gcinisa, Peddie and was sentenced to life. He broke into the victim’s house with intention to rape. For this charge he was sentenced to five years.

He also was found guilty for rape of a 36 year old woman from Mdantsane on 28 May 2016 and sentenced to life.

On 3 September 2016 he raped a 35 year old woman near Mpundu and for this he was sentenced to life. He forced and entered this woman’s house and pressed her down trying to take her cellphone. This is the attempted robbery charge, was found not guilty. Count 1 and 3 will run concurrently. All other life sentences will run concurrent with count one and three.

Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Ntshinga commended the harsh sentence handed by the judge today. She further commended the FCS detectives for the meticulous work collecting evidence and presenting it in court.

“We were outside this High Court during the sixteen days of activism saying we want harsher sentences for sexual offenders. Our request did not fall on deaf ears. We also pledged to continue the fight against gender violence and sexual offences. This sentence is an indication that we have delivered on the undertaking to take this campaign beyond sixteen days in December only,” recalled the Provincial Commissioner.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service