A rapist has been sent to life in prison by the Umlazi Regional Court on 20 July 2017.
He was further sentenced to six years for attempted murder. The accused (43) was convicted and sentenced after the court heard how he raped and attempted to kill the victim at KwaMakhutha area.
On 15 August 2015 the victim, who was 11 years old at that time, was at Ezimbokodeni area, KwaMakhutha when she was called by her uncle to his house in the area. He promised to give her snow ball cakes. While she was in the house with the uncle, he raped her and stabbed her several times attempting to kill her.
A community member who was walking pass the house, heard the child crying and went to assist. He kicked the door opened and rescued the child from being killed by the accused. The accused managed to flee the scene and a case of rape and attempted murder was opened at KwaMakhutha police station for further investigation.
Umlazi Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit took over the investigation. The accused left the area after he heard that the police will arrest him and went in hiding.
This year in March, the members received information that the accused is back in the area and he was traced and immediately arrested. He was charged with rape and attempted murder. Within four months after his arrest, the case was finalised at Umlazi Regional Court where he pleaded guilty and was convicted accordingly.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the sentence handed down to the accused. “This will serve as a warning to other would be rapists who commit such crimes in the province. I also thanked a community member who came and rescued the child from being attacked by the accused. Our specialised FCS members investigated the case and presented enough evidence at court that led to the conviction of the accused,” he said.
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