A 34-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rape and rape of his elderly relative in December 2021 in the Nsuze area, Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal.
The man was sentenced at the Maphumulo Regional Court this week, said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Ms Natasha Ramkisson Kara.
“On the day of the incident, the complainant, 63, had attended a Christmas celebration with her immediate and extended family. Thereafter she returned to her house to get some sleep. She was awakened by the man breaking into her house via a window. She recognised him as one of her family members, who had attended the party. He assaulted her several times, demanding money from her. Then he raped her several times and eventually fell asleep in her bedroom. The woman crept out and ran to her neighbour’s house and contacted her family members. The woman’s granddaughter arrived there to find the man asleep in the house, and she took photos of him,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
The complainant was taken to the KwaDukuza Thuthuzela Care Centre where she received medical and psycho-social assistance. The man managed to escape from the house and was arrested in Gauteng a few months later, said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
In court, Regional Court Prosecutor Mr Bongani Sibisi led the evidence of several family members, as well as the photographs taken by the woman’s granddaughter.
“Evidence of a medical doctor who testified on the extent of the injuries suffered by the woman was also led in court. Sibisi handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the woman and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Henry Bhekuyise Nduli,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara. “In her statement, the woman said that she was pained because the man was like a grandson to her, and she never expected to be attacked by him. She further stated that she feels embarrassed to go into the community and that the assault has left her with physical scars.”
The man was sentenced accordingly and was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The NPA has a mandate to protect the most vulnerable in society, namely women and children said Ms Ramkisson-Kara. She commended the work done by the prosecution and the police in securing the conviction.
