Child rapist sentenced to 36 years imprisonment

CRIMINALS and rapists will not be tolerated in our society, and justice, it appears, will prevail in such cases.

On Wednesday, March 12, Vryheid Regional Court convicted and sentenced Sphamandla Wiseman Mkhwanazi (20) to a total of 36 years imprisonment for two counts of raping a nine-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 18 years on each count.

On December 23 of last year, Mkhwanazi’s young victim was visiting her grandmother at Hlobane, Vryheid.

The grandmother noticed that the young girl was limping and questioned her regarding this.

The victim reported that Sphamandla Wiseman Mkhwanazi from the tuck shop had called her aside and raped her repeatedly. He had then given her sweets and snacks and threatened to kill her should she tell anyone.

The young girl’s grandmother reported the case at Hlobane SAPS and the case was investigated by the Vryheid Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, who worked tirelessly to secure the conviction.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni said “The sentence will send a strong message to likeminded would-be offenders, as the police will not tolerate these criminal activities and we will ensure that through the quality of investigation that these criminals and rapists are prosecuted and moved away from the society.”