Phumlani Andrias Sithole began serving a 15-year jail term after being convicted of rape and subsequently sentenced in the Ladysmith Regional Court on Thursday, August 20.
32-year-old Sithole stood accused of raping a three-year-old child. The incident took place during August 2012 in the Rookdale area of Bergville.
He lured the child into his house, where he raped her.
Neighbours noticed the child leaving the house and informed her mother.
The child was immediately inspected and it was evident that there had been contact between Sithole and the child. Community members apprehended the rapist until police arrived and he was placed under arrest.
A case docket was registered at Bergville SAPS and the investigation was entrusted to the late Warrant Officer BM Dube of the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
The suspect was brought before court and remanded in custody while the investigation continued. Several attempts were made by Sithole to obtain bail, but in vain.
While awaiting a trial date and a DNA report, WO Dube was involved in a fatal motor vehicle collision while on duty in the Bergville area. However, he had already set the groundwork and Sithole was positively linked by means of DNA evidence.
During sentencing, Sithole was also found unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be recorded in the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
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