Convicted rapist gets life behind bars

On Tuesday (April 23), the Ntuzuma Regional Court sentenced Sandile Wiseman Nikwe, to life and 20 years imprisonment for rape, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

He committed the crimes in November 2020, in KwaMashu, Durban. On the evening of the offence, the 36-year-old complainant had been on her way to see her friend when she encountered Nikwe, 33, and immediately recognised him as they lived in the same neighbourhood.

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said Nikwe grabbed the woman and pulled her into a nearby ditch where he held her down and stabbed her in her upper body with a broken bottle.

“He then stabbed her in the eye and proceeded to rape her. Thereafter Nikwe continued to strangle her, and he only walked away when she pretended to be dead. He robbed her of her phone, her clothes, her watch, and her shoes. The complainant got help from a passer-by and was rushed to the hospital where she underwent emergency eye surgery, however, she eventually lost one eye. Nikwe was arrested after handing himself over to the police,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.

In the state’s case, Advocate Jenisha Sewbaran led the testimony of the complainant and a medical doctor, as well as the contents of the J88 forms.

Ms Sewbaran also handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the complainant.

“In her statement, the complainant said that the loss of her eye has affected her professionally in that she is no longer able to work. This has had dire consequences on her and her family as she was the breadwinner at home,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.

“Nikwe was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, 10 years imprisonment for attempted murder, and 10 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The court also found him unfit to possess a firearm and ruled that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.”