On Friday, 16 February 2024, the Pietermaritzburg High Court have sentenced a serial rapist, Mbutho Zondi, aged 39, to three life terms and 160 years’ direct imprisonment for multiple cases of Rape, Robbery with aggravating circumstances, Kidnapping, and Assault with an intent to do grievous bodily harm.
On Friday 29 July 2022, a case of Rape, and Armed robbery was opened at Ematimatolo police station after a 23-year-old victim was pointed with a firearm, robbed of her belongings including her cellphone, and further raped by the accused. The case was then transferred to Detective Sergeant Richard Gilden of Greytown Family Violence, Child protection and Sexual offences investigations unit for investigation
On Tuesday 27 September 2022, a crime with the same modus operandi occurred at Ematimatolo area where a 22-year-old female victim was raped and robbed of her belongings including her cellphone.
With the help of the victim, on Sunday 02 October 2022, the first victim was able to identify the suspect in one of the shops in the area. A tactical operation was conducted to apprehend the suspect. He was then arrested after being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and various cellphones. An investigation was able to link the suspect with both cases of Ematimatolo, as the suspect was in possession of both victims’ cellphones.
With the positive DNA results, the investigation was able to link the suspect with four more cases that were opened at Greytown police station. All for Rape, and armed robbery.
The matter was then transferred from Greytown Regional Court to Pietermaritzburg High Court where the accused was tried. Due to the multiple evidence submitted before court, the accused pleaded guilty, and he was sentenced on 16 February 2024.
The Umzinyathi District Commissioner, Major General Francis Slambert commended the professionalism of the investigation, and all the members involved in bringing the perpetrator to justice. Gender-based violence cases are one of the priority crimes that are on the rise, if we work together we can bring them down.
