Scottburgh Regional Court sentences man to life for raping college student

Mxolisi Shozi (40) from the mid-South Coast received life imprisonment at the Scottburgh Regional Court recently, for the rape of a woman in August 2023.

He met the complainant while she was at a tavern socialising with friends.

Court records suggest that he seemed intoxicated and began annoying them.

The group of friends decided to leave the tavern around 23:00, going to their respective homes. The complainant was renting a premises in the same area as she attended college there.

“Once home, the complainant was preparing for bed when Shozi knocked on her door,” explained Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, NPA regional spokesperson, KZN division.

“He pretended to be someone known to her, so she opened the door. He got into the house, switched off the lights, and raped the complainant three times before leaving.”

When Shozi left, the woman contacted her boyfriend, notifying him of what had happened.

Her boyfriend then took her to the police station, and thereafter she was taken to hospital for medical assistance.

Shozi was arrested the following day at his homestead after being positively identified by the complainant’s boyfriend.

In court, Prosecutor Akhile Gcume led the evidence of the complainant, her boyfriend (who was the first report), as well as a relative of the complainant who resided nearby.

The investigating officer was called to testify, and the evidence of the doctor who examined the complainant was also led. The accused was linked by DNA evidence.

Gcume handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the complainant and facilitated by court preparation officer Nokukhanya Mkhize.

“Therein, the complainant said that the incident had affected her academically, causing her to perform poorly at college,” added Ramkisson-Kara.

In addition to the sentence, Shozi was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

He was found to be unsuitable to work with children as well.

“The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. We remain committed to pursuing justice for the victims of crime. Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence remains a priority.”

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