A parolee (45) has been sentenced by the Ngwelezana Regional Court to life imprisonment and an additional 35 years for rape, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), and kidnapping his girlfriend, reports the Zululand Observer.

The offences were committed in December 2023 and February 2024 in the Mgazini area of Empangeni while the accused was out on parole.

His parole stemmed from a 2019 conviction for assault GBH and attempted murder involving a woman he was dating at the time.

In that matter, he received an effective sentence of eight years’ imprisonment and was released on parole in August 2023.

After his release, he began dating the current victim. The court heard that on December 29, 2023, the victim was returning home from a traditional ceremony when she encountered the accused.

He accused her of infidelity and assaulted her with a wooden stick, striking her body and head. A passer-by intervened and took her home, while the accused fled.

The victim opened a case of assault GBH, but the accused evaded arrest.

On February 24, 2024, the victim was again on her way to a traditional ceremony when she was again accosted by the accused.

He stabbed her in the chest, causing her to fall, then carried her to his homestead, where he raped her throughout the night.

She escaped the following morning and reported the incident to a neighbour. She was taken to the Ngwelezana Thuthuzela Care Centre for medico-legal assistance, and a case was registered.

As the accused was required to sign in regularly at a correctional services facility, police accompanied the victim there and arrested him while he was reporting.

Prosecutor Russell Sithembile Mngoma led evidence from the victim, the neighbour who received the first report, and the examining doctor.

A victim impact statement was also submitted, in which the victim described ongoing abuse, severe trauma and loss of self-esteem.

The accused was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for the December 2023 assault GBH.

For the February 2024 offences, he received life imprisonment for rape, 15 years for assault GBH, and five years for kidnapping.

His parole was cancelled, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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