A 25-year-old man, Nkululeko President Mashinini of Davel was sentenced by Ermelo Regional Court to life imprisonment for raping his 65-year-old neighbour.

Mashinini pleaded guilty to the charge of rape and the court further declared Mashinini unfit to possess a firearm as part of the sentence.

According to Ms Monica Nyuswa, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga director of public prosecutions, the victim was alone at her home in Davel on 9 January when Mashinini came into her house.

He tied her with shoe laces and raped her, before he stole four cell phones and fled the scene.

“A few days later, Mashinini was apprehended with the stolen phones in his possession and was arrested.”

Prosecutor Chanè Rothman, called the victim to testify in aggravation of sentence about the ordeal and the impact of the incident on her life.

The court considered the victim’s age, the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country.

The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Matric Luphondo, expresses his pleasure at the collective work done by everyone involved.

“Criminals who commit similar offenses cannot be left roaming around the streets while women and children are living in fear.”