The Evander Regional Court sentenced Xolani Mayisela on January 21 to life imprisonment for an attack on a woman with a restraining order against him.

The sentencing followed his recent conviction on the sexual attack that happened Kinross in December 2021.

The court heard that at about 17:00 on December 16, 2021, the victim, a 55-year-old domestic worker, was ironing clothes in her room at her employers’ home.

She was talking on the phone with her sister, when Mayisela entered the room.

The woman said she was startled and wondered how Mayisela gained entry as the gates were locked with the electric fence activated.

Mayisela then mocked the victim, saying that she thought she was clever. He further said no piece of paper (referring to the protection order) would stop him from gaining access to her.

Mayisela violently assaulted the victim with the iron until she collapsed.

When she regained conscious, she realised that Mayisela was raping her.

She pushed him away and ran to the main house but he followed her.

He grabbed her and dragged her back to the bedroom where he repeatedly raped her throughout the night.

He further threatened to kill her and her family before he fled.

The victim got assistance from the family of her employers the next day and the police were notified.

A case was eventually opened at Kinross SAPS then assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.

Police worked around the clock where they traced and arrested Mayisela.

The state presented a watertight case against him and was found guilty on November 5 last year.

Mayisela was sentenced as follows:

* Life Imprisonment for rape

* two years for contravening of the protection order

* Five years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently with the life imprisonment sentence.

Mayisela was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. His particulars will be included in National Register for Sex Offenders.

The acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi commended the investigator team, the Prosecution team and the judiciary which culminated into a well deserved sentence.

“We are pleased with the successful outcome of this case and this is a testament that anyone who violates a protection Order will be dealt with accordingly. People should not consider protection orders as useless but are encouraged to report any violations to the authorities, ” said the General.