Ndwakhulu Peter Sinyosi (36) of Tshitunitshafhasi will spend the remaining part of his life in jail. The Thohoyandou High Court found him guilty of rape on Monday.

The case relates to an incident at Tshitunitshafhasi Village in the Nzhelele Valley on May 8, 2005.

The court heard that the victim, a nine-year-old girl, was playing with friends in the street on the day of the incident. The court further heard that the accused arrived and requested the victim to follow him, saying he wanted to give her something from him house.

The little girl followed him to his house and he raped her repeatedly. The victim’s mother arrived a little later. When she enquired about the whereabouts of her daughter, she was told that Sinyosi had lured her to his house after promising to give her something.

The mother followed her to Sinyosi’s house. When she got closer to the house, she heard the victim crying for help inside the house. When he realized that the little girl’s mother was waiting for her outside, Sinyosi released her.

At that stage, the young girl was bleeding profusely.

Adv Mothikeng Nkgapele was prosecuting in the case, while Adv Oman Nemukovhani represented Sinyosi.

The court also heard that Sinyosi had three previous convictions. He was sentenced to three months in jail or to pay a fine of R300 for assault in 1991. He was again ordered to stay in prison for 15 months for theft in 2000, and in 2001 when he was released after a caution for theft.