Child rapist gets life sentence

A man convicted of raping a girl (13) in Madidima area, Mbongolwane was last week handed a life sentence for rape and a further two years for attempting to rape a 17-year-old girl.

Inkanyezi Regional Court in eShowe handed down the sentence.

The court heard how Phakamani Magwaza-Shandu approached the first victim and her two younger brothers leaving a shop at sunset on 5 December 2021.

Blocking their path, he said his brother rapes and kills children, warning them to take cover when a vehicle passed by.

ALSO READ: Schoolgirl rape victim dies before life sentencing of perpetrator

He then grabbed the girl’s arm and ordered her two siblings to go away.

In a nearby sugar cane plantation, he raped her before sending her away half-dressed.

Upon meeting her grandfather, the girl reported the incident, with SAPS called to take her to the station to open a case.

Thereafter, she was taken for an examination at Mbongolwane Hospital where the rape was confirmed.

The suspect, who was linked to the crime through DNA, was arrested three days later, but granted bail.

Second offence

Magwaza-Shandu fled, avoiding the court hearing in February 2024, but was rearrested that March after attempting to commit another sexual violation in Nkanini, eShowe.

This time, on 24 February 2024, Magwaza-Shandu met up with a teenage girl (17), who was known to him, on her way to attend Saturday classes at school.

Once again, he brought up the fact that there was a child rapist in the area, this time requesting the teenager have sex with him.

When she refused, he attempted to rape her but she fought back, hitting him in the face with a stone.

The girl managed to escape, reporting the attempted rape to her grandmother before opening a case with the police.

He was arrested and, this time, refused bail until his sentencing.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY