MPUMALANGA resident, Joseph Msizeni Khuluse (49) was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Thursday.
Khuluse was convicted and sentenced after he was found guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl at his place.
KZN police spokesman, Cpt Thulani Zwane said it is alleged that on 1 April 2011, the victim was sleeping when the accused overpowered her and raped her.
“Khuluse threatened the victim not to tell anyone about this incident. The girl told her grandmother about what happened and she then reported the matter to the police and the accused was eventually arrested.
“A case of rape was opened at Mpumalanga police and it was transferred to Pinetown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS),” said Zwane.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended and thanked investigators for successfully finalising the investigation.
“We want to encourage the victims to report such crimes so that the law will take its course. They must not be intimidated by their abusers and fail to report such incidents,” she said.
Ngobeni added that they thank the 10-year-old victim who broke the silence and reported the matter to the police that led to the arrest of the accused.
