Summary:
A 40-year-old man from Empangeni has been sentenced to life in prison after raping, assaulting, and kidnapping his girlfriend while on parole. He committed the crimes in December 2023 and February 2024. The court also sentenced him to additional years for assault and kidnapping, and his parole was cancelled.
A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment and 35 years in prison by the Ngwelezane Regional Court for raping, assaulting, and kidnapping his girlfriend.
The crimes happened in the Mgazini area of Empangeni in December 2023 and February 2024. At the time, the man was out on parole after serving time for assault and attempted murder in 2019.
According to Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on December 29, 2023, the man attacked the woman with a wooden stick, accusing her of being unfaithful. A passer-by helped her get home, but the man fled. The victim reported the assault to the police, but he evaded arrest.
Then, on February 24, 2024, the man stabbed the woman in the chest while she was walking to a traditional ceremony. He carried her to his home and raped her throughout the night. The following morning, she escaped and reported the assault. She received medical help at the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre.
When the police learned he was on parole, they arrested him at a Correctional Services facility while he was reporting there.
During the trial, the court heard evidence from the victim, a neighbor who first received her report, and the doctor who examined her. The victim also gave a statement describing the trauma and loss of self-esteem she suffered.
The court sentenced him as follows:
- December 2023 assault: 15 years
- February 2024 rape: life imprisonment
- February 2024 assault: 15 years
- February 2024 kidnapping: 5 years
Because the man was a repeat offender, his parole was cancelled, and he was declared unfit to own a firearm.
Ramkisson-Kara said, “The NPA hopes sentences of this nature show our commitment to fighting sexual abuse and gender-based violence. We will ensure perpetrators are held accountable.”
Source: Rising Sun Online, South Africa
