Since the start of this year, the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) have shown that they mean business when it comes to crimes committed against women and children.
On January 29, an accused in a rape investigation was sentenced in the Ladysmith Regional Court to 15 years’ imprisonment. His crime was committed during April last year at a function which was taking place in Moyeni Location, Emmaus, Bergville. While members of the family were busy at the function, a 49-year-old man walked off with his five-year-old niece. He took her into a dilapidated house close to the homestead, where he began to rape her.
The child’s parents had, in the meantime, realised the child was missing and had begun to search for her. They found the man raping the child.
A case was opened for investigation and the uncle was arrested. In court, bail for the accused was refused and he was remanded into custody where he remained until he was sentenced recently.
The state witnesses presented strong evidence against the accused and the Ladysmith Regional Court sentenced him to 15 years behind bars, which included a finding that the accused was unfit to possess a firearm or to work with children. His name is to be admitted into the Register of Sexual Offenders.
The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Puncham, welcomed the conviction and appreciated the fact that he was guided and assisted during the investigation by Public Prosecutor A Singh.
Two other accused were sentenced on February 26 in the Ladysmith Regional Court. This follows an incident which happened in the early hours of November 22, 2013, when two men forced their way into a house in the Mlumeleni area of Emmaus, Bergville. The two raped the homeowner, who lived with her two children, aged five and 11.
They then took her cellphone and left. She immediately got help and police swiftly arrested one of the suspects, who lived in the area. Further investigation led to the arrest of the second suspect.
Bail was denied for both accused and the case was heard in the Ladysmith Regional Court, where the first accused, Madoda Khumalo (33), was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for rape, five years for housebreaking and 12 years for theft.
The second accused, Hlanganani Nqubuka (28), was sentenced to 20 years in jail for rape, five years for housebreaking and 12 months for theft.
Accused two was linked to the crime by DNA evidence. The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Puncham, was elated with the sentence and thanked Public Prosecutor S Parthab for her support and guidance during the investigation.
On February 29, a third accused, aged 25, heard in the Ezakheni Regional Court that he will spend the next 33 years behind bars. The lengthy jail term was imposed as a result of an incident that took place during August 2014 when he broke into the home of his 62-year-old aunt in Ekuvukeni. There, he raped his aunt, beat her severely and robbed her of her cell-phone.
The accused was arrested by Ekuvukeni police officers after he broke into another premises a day later. He was not granted bail and he remained in custody up until his case was finalised. The accused was sentenced to three years for housebreaking, 15 years for robbery and 15 years for rape. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Constable Ntshingila, the investigating officer, welcomed the conviction and sentence, and thanked Public Prosecutor S Zungu for her help with the case.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
If you are reading this on your cellphone and there are telephone numbers provided in the text, you can call these simply by clicking on them.
To receive news links via WhatsApp.
For the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter why not join us there?
