MALAMULELE – The Malamulele Regional Court sentenced three men to long terms of imprisonment for rape last Friday. This follows three separate incidents that took place on various dates during the past years.

Gezani Richard Chauke (48), who is commonly known as Mninginisi, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. The incident relating to the case took place at Josefa Village in the Malamulele area, during the night of August 13, 2001. The court heard that the accused had raped a 46-year-old woman.

Another man, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail by the same court for a similar offence, is Magezi Ishmael Maluleke (30) of Shikundu village.

The incident that led to the case took place at Shikundu Village in the Malamulele area during the night of May 25, 2002. It was testified that Maluleke had captured a 29-year-old woman of Shikundu Village and raped her repeatedly.

Lawrence Chauke (30) was also sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old girl. The incident relating to the case took place at Mavambe Village near Malamulele during the night of May 5, last year.

He court heard that, during the night of the incident, the accused met the victim in the street. He grabbed her and raped her in the nearby bushes. The police have issued a statement in which they revealed that they were satisfied with the sentences.