THE Nkandla Regional Court last week sentenced a man (41) to life imprisonment for the rape of a schoolgirl (17), who was renting a room on his family’s property. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the incident took place in November 2022.

“In the early hours of the morning, the accused went to the complainant’s room and knocked on the door. When she opened, he forced himself inside and raped her.

“The next morning, the victim went to school and reported the incident,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

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The girl informed her mother and the perpetrator’s mother before reporting the matter to the police. She was examined at a local hospital, and the following day, the offender handed himself in.

Prosecutor Philile Shilenge led the State’s case, which included testimony from the complainant and her mother, as well as DNA samples linking the accused to the crime beyond dispute.

“[She] said the incident has affected her both psychologically and academically, as she struggles at school, has recurring nightmares, and feels trapped in her own body,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

“The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter, and we remain committed to pursuing justice for the victims of crime.”

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Safety concerns
This follows another case in May when KZN police launched a manhunt following the escape of a Bizimali High School rape suspect (28), also in Nkandla. He was rearrested at the Dalton Men’s Hostel in Umbilo, Durban.

This reignites concerns about the safety of schoolgirls in Nkandla and other rural towns, who are forced to rent accommodation far from home to access education. Community leaders and parents have warned that many pupils live in vulnerable conditions where they can be exploited or abused by landlords and older men.

Civil society groups, including the local Stand-Out Foundation, call for urgent intervention from the government and law enforcement to provide safer pupil accommodation and stronger protection measures.

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