Since the start of 2016 the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) have shown that they mean business when it comes to crimes against women and children.

On January 29, 2016 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 in 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 discovered 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 imprisonment, 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 the 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 home owner who lived with her two children aged five and 11.

They then took her cell phone and left. She immediately got help and police swiftly arrested one of the suspects, who lived in the area. Further investigation lead 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 was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for rape, five years imprisonment for housebreaking and 12 years imprisonment for theft of cell phone.

The second accused was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape, five years imprisonment for housebreaking and 12 months imprisonment for theft. He 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.