DNA evidence and a rape victim’s impact statement in aggravation of sentence led to two Toti rapists receiving a 20-year sentence each.
Regional court prosecutor, Shayna Naidoo read out the victim’s statement, which said, “The trauma that I have suffered is indescribable. I feel that when they raped me, they took a big chunk of my peace and happiness that cannot be restored. No woman should go through what I went through, because it was violating, degrading, disrespectful and embarrassing.”
Sakhile Trevor Mkhize (28) and Sibusiso Nzama (20) were sentenced by the Durban Regional Court on Thursday, 16 October to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape.
Both were also declared unfit to possess a firearm
“The incident took place in January 2013 in Toti,” said Toti SAPS communication officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy.
“The victim was returning from Winklespruit with her younger brother and crossed the bridge over the N2 towards Tecoma Road in St Winifreds when the men approached her, coming from underneath the bridge. They asked her what belongings she had and when she said she had nothing, they took her into nearby bushes and took turns raping her. This was done in full sight of her brother as they had tied his shoe laces together, so that he couldn’t run away.”
The accused fled the scene and the victim went home and reported the incident to her mother.
A case of rape was opened at Toti SAPS and investigated by Capt Erica Clifton-Parks.
“Two days later, the complainant returned to the scene with the police and found the accused in the vicinity.
She positively identified them and they were arrested. They were also linked via DNA evidence.
