The Pietermaritzburg Regional Court convicted and sentenced Siphamandla Christian Mpanza (33) to 15 years imprisonment last week after he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old victim.
On 28 June 2008 at about 6.40pm in Hammarsdale, the teenage victim was sent by her mother to a neighbour’s house.
On arrival she was called by the accused to his room where he raped her. The victim reported the incident and the matter was reported to the police.
The accused was arrested and appeared in the Hammarsdale Magistrate’s Court several times.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the sentences meted by the court to the accused.
“This will certainly send out a strong message to other criminals who prey on defenseless women and children,” she said.
