TONGA – On July 22, 49-year-old Calvin Mfantane Mkhatshwa was sentenced to life imprisonment by Magistrate Mr Edgar Moletsane at the Nkomazi Tonga Regional Court for raping an 11-year-old girl.
According to the victim’s statement, the incident occured on September 21, 2013. She was bathing in the outside shower when Mkhatshwa, who was hired to fix a fence in the yard saw her, grabbed her and went into the house where he raped her.
According to Lt Mzwandile Nyambi, the matter was reported by the victim’s mother five days after the incident had occurred.
“Apparently the mother noticed that the girl was not feeling well and when she asked her what was wrong the girl told her she had been raped by the man hired to fix the fence. The mother then reported the case to the police and the suspect was arrested.”
The case was headed by Det Const Ruth Mavimbela of the family violence, child abuse and sexual offences unit in Tonga cluster. Nyambi added, “Mavimbela led a successful investigation during which the suspect was locked up, bringing justice for robbing an 11-year-old girl of her innocence.”
Police encourage parents to report such cases immediately.
