On Sunday, 28 January 2018, at about 05:00, the 23 year old victim, who is a paraplegic, was sleeping in her house in Booysen Park, Bethelsdorp when she was awoken by an unknown man in her room. The man attacked her and attempted to strangle her. He ordered her to keep quiet while he raped her. At the time of the incident the suspect was unknown but during the investigation the victim was able to identify him and on 24 February 2018, Mdunyelwa was arrested and remained in custody for the duration of the trial.
The relentless efforts of our Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and the criminal justice system in exercising thorough investigations and prosecutions is proving to be effective when perpetrators are found guilty and sentenced.
Bongani Mdunyelwa (28) was sentenced on 28 May 2019, in the Port Elizabeth Regional court to 28 years imprisonment for rape and housebreaking.
Mdunyelwa was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape and 8 years for housebreaking of which 4 years is suspended for four years. Effectively he will serve 24 years in prison.
The Cluster Commander for Mount Road Cluster, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile commended the FCS unit for their thorough investigations.
“We commend our FCS Unit and our justice system for their sterling efforts in bringing this perpetrator to book. The SAPS has the responsibility to protect the vulnerable in society and these responsibilities are taken seriously through thorough investigation, effective arrests and prosecutions. This conviction will serve as a deterrent to potential rapists and the SAPS through its FCS units ensures that sentences such as this will bring justice to the victims of these crimes,’ added Maj Gen Patekile
South Africa Today – South Africa News
