One of the two men who dragged a girl to a church in KaMhlushwa and repeatedly raped her was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Pikinini Solvent Phesane (26) was sentenced in the Boschfontein Regional Court on Thursday, November 21. He had pleaded guilty to the rape charge when he appeared there on November 14.

“The evidence against him was overwhelming and we believe that was the reason for his guilty plea,” said a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.

Phesane was linked to the rape through DNA.

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The court heard that Phesane and his two friends had met the girl when she had been going to her friend’s home to study at about 19:20 on September 12, 2021. The three men had been drinking and passed the girl, aged 18 at that time.

“They passed her and after a few seconds grabbed her. She knew one of the young men who was her schoolmate,” said Mdhluli.

“She did not know his name and surname but knew where he stayed with his parents.”The man who knew her asked his friends to leave her, but they refused. He then walked away.

“The two men grabbed the victim and took her to a church against her will. They assaulted and raped her,” Mdhluli added.

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He said after the church the men took the victim to some bushes where they repeatedly raped her again. She later managed to escape.

She went home and told her family what had happened to her. The matter was reported at the KaMhlushwa Police Station and the SAPS took the victim to the Thuthuzela Care Centre for examination.

The girl told the police that she knew the man who had left before she was attacked. The police went to the witness’s home and he took them to where one of the suspects was staying. This assisted the SAPS as it led to Phesane’s arrest.

The police continued their search for the second perpetrator without success. He has still not been found.

Mdlhuli said the victim was able to identify the suspect during an identity parade.

The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the sentence. “Well done to the team. This sentence is welcome as it has the potential to be a warning to other would-be rapists,” he said.

He also said the cops would continue their search for the remaining suspect.