THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentences imposed on Ifeanyi Ifeanacho and Mapule Rose Tshibangila by the Pinetown Regional Court following their convictions on charges of trafficking in persons and several related offences.

KZN NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the pair were convicted of trafficking in persons, kidnapping, keeping a brothel, procuring a female for prostitution, living on the earnings of prostitution, being occupiers of premises used for the defilement of a female, and money laundering.

“In addition, Ifeanacho was convicted on two counts of rape, one count of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and contravention of the Immigration Act, while Tshibangila was convicted on one count of rape; she enabled an environment where the complainant could be raped,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Between the period of September 2 to 6, 2022, the complainant, an adult woman, was lured to KZN by the accused, who paid for all her expenses.

“After her arrival at a house in the Malvern area, she was kept against her will and raped by Ifeanacho on two occasions. The complainant was further forced into prostitution by the accused with clients who visited the brothel at this house. On several occasions the complainant asked to leave the house, and this angered Ifeanacho, causing him to assault her. The complainant was deprived of her freedom and Ifeanacho told her that he ‘owned’ her.

“The complainant eventually managed to contact her sister, who alerted the police to her whereabouts. Acting on the information received, law enforcement officers rescued the complainant and arrested the accused,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

In court, Advocate Val Dafel led the testimonies of the complainant and her sister, as well as police officials who attended the scene.

“Cellphone evidence and medical evidence also formed a part of the state’s case. A representative from the Department of Home Affairs testified regarding Ifeanacho’s immigration contravention.

“Advocate Dafel also handed in a victim impact statement compiled by the complainant and facilitated by court preparation officer, Bonisile Mthethwa.

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“In her statement the complainant said that prior to the incident she was a happy and carefree person. However, she now has trust issues and lives in constant fear. She also said that she is afraid of strangers and that the incident has destroyed her life. She said during the incident she felt degraded and confused,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Ifeanacho was sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking in persons, life imprisonment each for the two counts of rape, three years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, five years’ imprisonment for assault GBH, three years’ imprisonment for keeping a brothel, seven years’ imprisonment for procurement of a female, three years’ imprisonment for defilement, five years’ imprisonment for living on the earnings of prostitution, five years’ imprisonment for money laundering, and 12 months’ imprisonment for contravention of the Immigration Act.

“He will serve an effective sentence of life imprisonment,” explained Ramkisson-Kara.

Tshibangila was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for trafficking in persons, three years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, 13 years’ imprisonment for rape, three years’ imprisonment for keeping a brothel, seven years’ imprisonment for procurement of a female, three years’ imprisonment for defilement, five years’ imprisonment for living on the earnings of prostitution, and five years’ imprisonment for money laundering.

“In sentencing Tshibangila to 15 years imprisonment for trafficking in persons, the court deviated from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The court found that she had played a lesser role in committing the offence and acted under the instructions of Ifeanacho. She will serve an effective sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment,” explained Ramkisson-Kara.

Ramkisson-Kara added that both accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children. 

“Further, the court ordered that their names be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. 

“Trafficking in persons constitutes a grave violation of human rights and bodily integrity. The NPA and its partners in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster will continue our collaborative efforts to curb this offence. This sentence is particularly significant, as South Africa observes National Human Trafficking month during October,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

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