School guard sentenced for rape of pupils

A security guard was sentenced to life plus 10 years imprisonment by the Empangeni Regional Court last Thursday.

Ayanda Lembede (37) was found guilty of rape and sexual assault of two children, aged eight and nine years old.

The incidents took place in Empangeni between 2021 and 2022.

Lembede was employed as a security guard at a primary school where the victims schooled.

Lembede threatened to kill them if they told anyone what he was doing.

The matter eventually came to light when one of the girls confided in her mother; after which the other girl also spoke out.

Lembede was arrested after the girls’ parents reported the matter to the police.

The victims were taken to the Ngwelezana Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medical and psycho-social assistance.

In court, Prosecutor Lungisile Bhengu led the testimonies of the two girls, their first reports (their mothers’), the testimony of the doctor who examined them, and the contents of the J88 form (written evidence of medical testimony).

In addition, the State handed in victim impact statements, compiled by the girls and facilitated by court preparation officer Seneliso Sibanda.

One of the girls said the incident had traumatised her mentally and emotionally. The other girl said, following the incident she could not focus on school and had to move to another school.

Lembede was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of one of the girls.

While he was also charged with rape of the second girl, the court convicted him of sexual assault.

For this charge, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National

Register for Sex Offenders, and that he be deemed unfit to work with children.

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