A convicted rapist, Nthatheni Ndou (29) of Tshitombonin village outside Thohoyandou, chose death instead of spending 18 years in jail. Ndou was found guilty and sentenced to 36 years’ imprisonment on two counts of rape in the Thohoyandou High Court last Friday.

The case relates to an incident that took place at Tovhowani village during the night of August 17, 2006. The court heard that during the night of the incident the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was on her way to her friend’s home when she met Ndou.

The victim told the court that Ndou grabbed her and raped her in the nearby bushes after threatening her with death. After raping her, Ndou let the victim go, but followed her before she disappeared. He grabbed and raped her again. When she arrived at her friend’s home, she related the whole story to the friend before requesting her to accompany her back home.

When she arrived at home, the victim told the story to her uncle, who took the matter up with the police. Ndou was arrested a few days after the incident. Before sentencing him, Judge Godfrey Hetisani described Ndou as a cruel person.

Ndou was sentenced to 18 years in prison on the first count and another 18 years on the second count. The two sentences were to run concurrently. Ndou cried uncontrollably inside the court immediately after he was sentenced.

Ndou was represented by Mr Mbambadzeni Manwadu while Advocate Ratshilumela Makhera was prosecuting. According to the police statement, Ndou’s body was found hanging inside the cell at the Thohoyandou Police Station later that afternoon.