Life sentence for Osizweni rapist brings justice for survivor
The prosecution by Prosecutor Simphiwe Scelo Hlela also laid strong evidence in court, for example, that of the evidence of a medical practitioner, the accused neighbour's evidence, as well as the survivor's.
A man who followed his victim before dragging her to his and repeatedly raping her was jailed for life when he appeared in the Madadeni Regional Court.
The court heard that in December 2023, his 31-year-old victim was at a tavern in the Flathela area of Osizweni socialising with a friend and her boyfriend.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the KwaZulu-Natal Division, said the woman noticed a man walking around the tavern collecting bottles and when they all left, going in separate directions, she realised that the same man was following her.
The man violently grabbed her by the hair, told her she was coming with him, and assaulted her.
He dragged her to his residence, where he raped her throughout the night.
When she attempted to escape in the early morning, he awoke and raped her again before finally letting her go, warning her that she would be hurt if she told anyone.
Petrified, the woman ran to a neighbour’s residence.
She received immediate medical treatment and counselling from the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Madadeni, while the suspect was immediately detained.
The prosecution by Prosecutor Simphiwe Scelo Hlela also led to compelling evidence in court that included a report of a medical practitioner, the accused neighbour’s evidence and the survivor.
The survivor bravely shared how the ordeal had left her feeling ashamed and fearful.
The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment, declared him unfit to possess a firearm, and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
“The NPA welcomes this successful prosecution. We hope that sentences of this nature demonstrate that we and our partners in the justice cluster are serious about fighting the scourge of sexual offences and gender-based violence,” Ramkisson-Kara concluded.
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