KwaDukuza court takes hard line on rape cases

The KwaDukuza regional court handed down two life sentences in July, both for rape.

A further seven cases were closed in the month, six with guilty charges and one where the accused was found not guilty.

The first life sentence case saw two men accused and convicted for raping a 15-year-old minor in Nonoti in July 2018.

KwaDukuza regional Court 2 heard that Sphamandla Dlomo (25) and Sphamandla Dube (28) took turns raping a teenage girl who was known to them as they grew up in the same community.

Public prosecutors JM Titus and NP Mthembu argued that the men abused a position of trust and that a firm stance needed to be taken given the nature of the offence and prevalence of gender-based violence.

The rape took place while Dlomo was on parole on a charge of murder and he received the full life sentence given his status as a repeat offender.

Dube was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

In the second case, Melusi Sakhile (49) was convicted for the rape and robbery of an elderly woman in Doringkop in May last year.

Sakhile was riding his bicycle when he saw the woman exercising, later stopping to rape her at knifepoint, after which he robbed her.

Prosecutor Mthembu argued that women have a right to walk peacefully on the country’s streets and that the elderly need to feel protected.

Sakhile had previously been sentenced to 15 years for rape in 2009, among other offences, and was out on parole when the most recent rape happened.

He received a full life sentence for the offence, to be served concurrently with a three-year sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Two further cases of rape were closed last month, again showing the drastic need for action to be taken to curb gender-based violence in the country.

Philani Mhlongo was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for a rape in Shakaskraal in November last year, running concurrently with a three-year sentence for assault GBH (an assault which causes grievous bodily harm).

Thabo Gandela received a 20-year sentence for the rape of a seven-year-old minor in Zamani in October 2020.

Elsewhere in KwaDukuza’s two regional courts, two people were convicted on illegal immigration charges and sentenced to three months imprisonment, in which time they will be deported.

The remaining three cases involved murder.

Nineteen-year-old Sabelo Cele was convicted for stabbing and killing Jabulani Mayise in Nkobongo in May 2021. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Sheldon Moonsamy (26) received a 10-year sentence for the murder of Nigel Williams in Glenhills in 2017. He had bludgeoned Williams to death with a brick.

The final case, also a murder conviction, will be covered in more detail in next week’s edition.

Follow The North Coast Courier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube for breaking news

Telegram Broadcast Service: https://t.me/joinchat/yJULuN8NaCs5OGM0