Irrefutable DNA evidence has sealed the fate of a 28-year-old rapist, who was convicted and sentenced to ‘hard time’ in the Ezakheni Regional Court last week.
The crime itself happened about 2 years ago in the Moyeni area. A Grade 7 pupil from the Upper Tugela area and her two cousins were asleep in their home when an intruder broke in, in the early hours of the morning. The three instinctively ran as soon as they had an opportunity.
The man chased them and caught the young schoolgirl, while her cousins managed to escape. The assailant forced her into nearby bush, where he raped the girl.
The incident was reported to Upper Tugela police and a case docket consisting of two charges (rape and housebreaking with intent to rape) was opened. The docket was handed to the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection & Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for investigation and the very next day, the perpetrator was arrested.
The suspect was brought before court, where he was remanded into custody.
Warrant Officer SNF Mncwango was tasked with the investigation. He painstakingly collected all the relevant evidence and prepared the docket for court. During the course of last week, Samkelwa Hlatshwayo (28) was found guilty on both counts.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on the count of housebreaking and fifteen years on the count of rape. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Hlatshwayo could not refute the state’s case due to the overwhelming DNA evidence that linked him to the scene.
