Court sentences man to 20 years for rape
A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Madadeni Magistrates Court for raping a woman at Mndozo Farm. Read more here:
The Madadeni Regional Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for raping a 36-year-old woman at Mndozo Farm in March 2024.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, said that although the unnamed accused was charged with rape, which carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment, the court decided to deviate from this.
Ramkisson-Kara said the decision followed the accused’s admission of rape, which the court saw as a sign of remorse.
The court heard that the accused, the complainant, and her boyfriend all knew each other.
On the night of the incident, she and her boyfriend were at a tavern where they were joined by the accused.
When they left, the accused asked for a lift. They first dropped the complainant at her home before the boyfriend drove the accused to his residence.
Once inside her house, the woman went to bed without locking the door, as she expected her boyfriend to return after dropping off the accused. However, the accused walked back to her house.
“Since the door was unlocked, he entered, found her asleep, and raped her. The complainant tried to fight him off, but he injured her by digging his fingernails into her skin before fleeing,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
The complainant reported the crime to the police and was taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC). The accused was later arrested at his homestead.
In court, Prosecutor Zama Zikalala led the testimony of the complainant and the medical doctor who examined her. Medical evidence was led, after which the accused chose to admit to raping her.
In addition to his 20-year sentence, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm. His name will also be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA’s fight against sexual violence has been supported by the expansion of TCCs across the country.
The number of centres has grown from 55 in 2020/2021 to 66 at present, providing comprehensive care and support to victims of sexual violence.
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