Thanks to the alertness of community members and thorough police investigation, a 41-year-old man has been sentenced for rape.

This was after he raped a 51-year-old woman in December 2015. The woman was walking home from a shop at about 8pm when she was accosted by the man who dragged her into a bush, where he assaulted and raped her.

The woman’s screams for help were heard by members of the community walking nearby and they instinctively went to help. Fearing that he may be caught, the rapist fled the scene.

With vigilance, the Ladysmith police investigated and the man was traced two days later.

“The case was opened and the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences Unit took over the investigation. The accused has made several court appearances before his conviction,” explained police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala.

On Monday, October 17, the man was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. He appeared in the Ladysmith Regional Court where the sentence was handed down. KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa commended the sentencing and also applauded the job well done by the police.

“When police and the community work together, the crime rate in our province will drop. People should not walk alone in the evenings but rather have someone accompany them for their safety,” he said.