22 years in jail for rape of 74-year-old woman

20-year-old brutal rapist and robber Nkosingiphile Nkosi stood before Ladysmith Magistrate Visagie yesterday morning (Monday) for sentencing.

Nkosi previously appeared in the Regional Court on March 5, where he was found guilty of raping 74-year-old Mrs Moolman on February 14 last year. He was also found guilty of housebreaking with intention to rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Showing no signs of remorse, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. This after the State produced strong evidence linking the accused to three of the four charges he faced.

In a packed courtroom, Magistrate Visagie said that rapists and robbers are on top of the ladder when it comes to heinous crime, especially seeing that the old and weak are being targeted by these criminals, and they will face severe sentencing in court.

At the time of the robbery and rape, Nkosi was 20 years old and a school-going pupil in Grade 9.

Speaking to the Ladysmith Gazette in an exclusive interview, the Moolman family thanked all the people (of all races) who supported them throughout the ordeal and the trial.

For those who have not been following the story, on the day of the brutal attack (February 14, 2014), a young man visited the Moolman farmstead with the intention of hiring a truck to move machinery. He could not be helped because the farmer was not at home. Mrs Moolman phoned her husband and gave the telephone to the man. After the telephonic conversation, the man agreed to return the following day.

However, before leaving, he asked the farmer’s wife for some food and she gave him some. After a short time, the family dog started barking inside the house. Realising something was wrong, she contacted Elandslaagte police. Minutes later, she was attacked by the man. She attempted to fight him off, even though he was holding her at knife-point and saying, “I’ll kill you”.

He pressed her down on the bed and raped her. Shortly afterwards, the young man raped her again. And just when she thought the ordeal was over, he pulled her to the living room, demanding money and weapons.

The elderly woman then decided to make a desperate bid for freedom. She managed to escape from her attacker and run to a neighbour’s farm. The farmer (neighbour) came to her assistance and immediately activated his Secure SA alarm.

Dog Unit (K9) officers and Sharaj Ambulance Services rushed to the farm. By then, her husband had left the work he was doing and also rushed to his wife’s aid. The 74-year-old woman was rushed to a local hospital.

The next day, police investigating the attack made a breakthrough when community members came forward with information about the attacker. He was arrested and positively identified by the victim.