A convicted serial rapist was handed 55 years in prison for the rape of five women between February 2017 and August 2023.

According to Zululand Observer, Thanduxolo Manganyela (37), who was sentenced this week by Mtubatuba Regional Court, was also convicted of stealing a cellphone belonging to one of his victims.

All the victims were adults unknown to each other, with the rapes taking place in the eMakhowe, Hluhluwe and KwaMsane areas of KZN.

The court heard that Manganyela attacked all his victims in their homes at night while they were asleep. In one instance, he raped an aunt and niece living together, and in another, he raped a mother in front of her children.

Following the assaults, he asked the victims to cover themselves with blankets and fled the scene.

Manganyela was eventually arrested when one victim spotted him in her neighbourhood and alerted the police. He was linked to all the victims through DNA evidence.

Victim impact statements outlined the torment the victims suffered following the assaults.

One said her boyfriend left her after the rape, while another said she fears her daughter may suffer a similar experience.

Manganyela was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for each of four rape cases, 15 years for the fifth, and two years for theft. Sentences will run concurrently.

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