A 30-year-old Eastern Cape rapist has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the multiple rape of an eight-year-old girl five years ago.
Another rapist will spend the next 16 years behind bars after being found guilty of violating a 34-year-old woman.
Kholekile Mhlaba was arrested in 2010 for raping the child near Libode and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mthatha Regional Court on Thursday.
Mhlaba reportedly first lured his young victim to his place by giving her sweets and then asking her to accompany him to get more sweets, said national prosecuting authority (NPA) regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali.
“The young girl knew Mhlaba as they lived in the same neighbourhood, ” the spokesman said.
“On the first encounter he threatened the young girl with a knife not to tell anyone what he had done to her.”
However, evidence presented during the case revealed that she had been raped at least three more times until her mother noticed that something was wrong with her.
“The child confided in her.”
Tyali said the victim’s mother told the court that during his arrest, Mhlaba had shouted from the back of the police van that he had “destroyed the child”.
But he denied everything during the trial.
During his sentencing, the court found that the accused had shown no remorse for violating an innocent child.
Tyali said the NPA was pleased with the sentence which would send a strong message to other would-be rapists who prey on defenceless children.
In another rape trial on Thursday, 20-year-old Siphelele Tyhali was sentenced by the Butterworth Regional Magistrate’s Court to 16 years in jail for raping a 34-year-old woman in 2012.
The victim had bumped into the accused in the city centre at 7.30pm and had enquired from Tyhali where her boyfriend was living.
“The accused, who was 17 years old at the time, pretended to assist her and took her to an old room where he drew out a knife and raped her,” said Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha.
The suspect was traced and arrested shortly afterwards.
EC man jailed for multiple rape of young girl
Another rapist will spend the next 16 years behind bars after being found guilty of violating a 34-year-old woman.
Kholekile Mhlaba was arrested in 2010 for raping the child near Libode and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mthatha Regional Court on Thursday.
Mhlaba reportedly first lured his young victim to his place by giving her sweets and then asking her to accompany him to get more sweets, said national prosecuting authority (NPA) regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali.
“The young girl knew Mhlaba as they lived in the same neighbourhood, ” the spokesman said.
“On the first encounter he threatened the young girl with a knife not to tell anyone what he had done to her.”
However, evidence presented during the case revealed that she had been raped at least three more times until her mother noticed that something was wrong with her.
“The child confided in her.”
Tyali said the victim’s mother told the court that during his arrest, Mhlaba had shouted from the back of the police van that he had “destroyed the child”.
But he denied everything during the trial.
During his sentencing, the court found that the accused had shown no remorse for violating an innocent child.
Tyali said the NPA was pleased with the sentence which would send a strong message to other would-be rapists who prey on defenceless children.
In another rape trial on Thursday, 20-year-old Siphelele Tyhali was sentenced by the Butterworth Regional Magistrate’s Court to 16 years in jail for raping a 34-year-old woman in 2012.
The victim had bumped into the accused in the city centre at 7.30pm and had enquired from Tyhali where her boyfriend was living.
“The accused, who was 17 years old at the time, pretended to assist her and took her to an old room where he drew out a knife and raped her,” said Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha.
The suspect was traced and arrested shortly afterwards.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos