ERMELO – The Ermelo Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Simon Thokozane Malinga (34) to life imprisonment on July 9 for his participation in the gang rape of a woman in Thusi Village on March 22, 2022.

Malinga and his co-accused, who has already been convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty, approached two women and a man.

Armed with a knife, they threatened the victims and robbed the man of his cellphone.

According to Monica Nyuswa, the provincial spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, the man and one of the women managed to escape, but Malinga and his accomplice proceeded to take turns raping the remaining woman before fleeing the scene.

The matter was reported to the police, and both accused were traced and arrested shortly afterwards.

“In court, Malinga pleaded not guilty, claiming he was coerced by his co-accused into committing the crime,” Nyuswa said.

However, State Prosecutor Chané Rothman presented compelling evidence from multiple witnesses, including the co-accused.

A J88 medical report confirmed injuries to the victim’s genitals.

The court found the State’s witnesses credible and rejected Malinga’s version of events.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder newspaper.