Two child rapists to jail for life

On Tuesday last week, the High court sentenced a 33-year-old man to life-term imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl.

According to the court, the accused asked the girl who is the daughter of his elder brother to accompany him to the chief's kraal, but she refused.

He then forced her to the nearby Matamela Primary School, where he raped her. The incident happened on August 17, 2002 at about 18:00. Although the accused gave her 50c and told her not to tell anybody, the young girl told her parents and the suspect was arrested on the same day. In another case finalised on the same day, a 24-year-old man was also sentenced to a life-term imprisonment for raping his sister in August 1999.

In another case finalised on Wednesday, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl. The suspect met the victim on her way home and threatened her with a knife before he raped her for four hours.

The head of the Child Protection Unit in Sibasa, Captain Mzamani Hobyane said they welcomed the sentences meted out by the court to perpetrators of rape against defenceless women and children. "This unit is encourages all community members to help fight against all rapists. We still have a problem of those who report their cases after physical evidence has been damaged. I am appealing to parents and all victims of rape or any abuse to make sure that they report such cases on time," said Hobyane.

In another incident, a joyful journey turned ugly for a 42-year-old woman, when she was allegedly raped by a 53-year-old man while on her way from a church service.

According to the police spokesperson, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, the woman, who is mentally-disturbed, was on her way from attending a Zion Christian Church (ZCC) church service on the evening of April 17, when the incident happened. "The man met the unsuspecting woman and raped her while she was on her way home. The case was reported to us and the man was arrested during the Easter Weekend," said Mushavhanamadi.

The man was still to appear in court at the time of going to press.

News - Date: 25 April 2003

Ndivhuwo Musetha

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