GIYANI - A taxi driver, Eddy Mathonsi (50), will spend the next 18 years behind bars after he was found guilty of rape in the Tzaneen High Court on Thursday.

The case related to an incident that took place along the Elim-Giyani road during the morning of September 29, 2002, at about 09:25.

The court heard that, on the day of the incident, the victim boarded the accused's minibus taxi at the Bungeni taxi rank. She was on her way to her home in Ndengeza Village. The victim was 14 years old during the time of the incident.

When the taxi was about to reach the Ndengeza Village bus stop, the accused drove off the road. He drove in the direction of the nearby bushes. On arrival in the bushes, Mathonsi parked the minibus under a tree. He then raped the girl repeatedly inside the minibus.

The court heard that the accused later gave the victim R3 and ordered her not to tell the story to anyone. Although the victim took the money, she did not keep her mouth shut as instructed; instead, she shared her experience with her parents.

He parents took the matter up with the police and the accused was arrested a few days after the incident. He appeared in the Hlanganani Magistrate's court several times until the case was referred to the Tzaneen High Court, where it was finalised last Thursday.