Rape suspect gets 28 year jail term

The Pietermaritzburg Regional Court convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old man to 28 years imprisonment for rape, housebreaking and theft.

In 2012, Sibusiso “Nkomo” Hlatshwayo broke into houses in Copesville and Thamboville, Pietermaritzburg, threatened women with a knife, raped them, stole cell phones and fled, according to police.

On 24 March 2012, a then 21-year-old female was sleeping at her place of residence in Thamboville when she was allegedly awoken by a man who put a knife on her throat and raped her.

When he finished, he took two cell phones and fled.

In a separate incident, a then 26-year-old female visited her boyfriend at Copesville.

The woman said an unknown man broke into the house, threatened her with a knife and raped her after her boyfriend had left for work.

The man made off with the victim’s cell phone.

Police said cases of rape were opened for investigation.

Hlatshwayo was arrested and after an intensive investigation, he was linked to both incidents through DNA.

After several court appearances, he was convicted and sentenced on Tuesday.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended Pietermaritzburg FCS Unit for their dedication in investigating these cases and for gathering the evidence that led to the prosecution of the accused.

“Rapists need to be aware that in KZN there is no tolerance when it comes to crimes against women and children.

We will do everything within our control to trace and arrest those that are responsible for these crimes,” she said.

On Tuesday, the Tonga Regional Court sentenced a 34-year-old man for raping a neighbour’s eight-year-old daughter to life imprisonment.

Mandla Lubisi, who was trusted in his neighbourhood, ended up raping a child.

The child was taken to hospital where it was confirmed she had been raped.

– Caxton News Service