Serial rapist faces decades behind bars

A convicted serial rapist was handed 55 years in prison for the rape of five women between February 2017 and August 2023.

Thanduxolo Manganyela (37), who was this week sentenced by Mtubatuba Regional Court, was also convicted for stealing a cellphone belonging to one of his victims.

All the victims were adults unknown to each other, with the rapes taking place in the eMakhowe, Hluhluwe and KwaMsane areas.

The court heard that Manganyela attacked all his victims in their homes at night while they were asleep. In one instance, he raped an aunt and niece who were living together, while in another instance, he raped a mother in front of her children.

Following the assault, he would ask the victims to cover themselves with blankets, and flee the scene.

Manganyela was eventually arrested when one of the victims spotted him in her neighbourhood and alerted the police. He was linked to all the victims via DNA evidence.

Victim impact statements outlined the torment the victims suffered following the assaults.

One said her boyfriend left her after the rape, while another said she fears her daughter may suffer a similar experience.

Manganyela was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the four rape cases, a further 15 years for the fifth rape case, and an additional two years for theft. Sentences will run concurrently.

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