After months of investigation Const Nonhlanhla Zulu of the provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit helped to secure the conviction of Mzingisi Radebe, known as Mandela.
Radebe was connected with several Germiston rape cases during Zulu’s investigation.
“His DNA linked him to three cases, one in Katlehong and two in Germiston,” she explained.
“I found him in Boksburg Prison where he was an inmate and charged him with the three rape cases and discovered he was on trial for yet another case.”
The first charge was from March 2011 where Radebe raped a 19-year-old girl in Mandela Park in Katlehong.
The victim was held down and raped.
Following the incident the victim moved back to the Eastern Cape.
“When I took over the investigation and attempted to speak to the victim I discovered she now resided in the Eastern Cape.
“I was able to find her contact details and called her. During the conversation I discussed the current status of the case and my intentions for the investigation as her case had been reopened as there was new information and leads.
“She, however, had no faith and believed that the outcome of the case would not make any difference in her life as she was still traumatised,” said Zulu.
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The victim finally agreed to assist in the case when Zulu informed her that her alleged attacker was in custody and that her help was needed in his trial.
In the first incident he raped a 20-year-old woman in March 2014 and in the second he raped a 30-year-old man in December 2015. Both victims were reluctant to help in the case but Zulu managed to make them see the importance of removing the accused from the community.
Witnesses were afraid to give testimony in court against him as he was known to be a very dangerous man.
But this did not deter Zulu and Radebe was found guilty in each case in the Johannesburg High Court.
For the first he was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for rape and kidnapping, in the second he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape and kidnapping and in the third he was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for rape, kidnapping and pointing a firearm.
Zulu believes that the successful conviction of Radebe will help his victims find closure.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.
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