17 year sentences for rape at school
In practice, the girls would have stayed at the school for a period of three months, but following the atrocities they endured they wanted to leave the school before the time. He told them that if they left before the period they would go crazy
MBOMBELA – A sangoma found guilty on 17 counts of rape that took place at his initiation school in Masoyi in 2012, was sentenced to 17 life terms in the Circuit High Court on Friday.
A total of 21 girls aged nine to 17 laid charges against Johan Jabulani Mlombo (51) and his co-accused, Sister Mapalesa Khoza, in 2012. Khoza was found guilty on two assault charges and one count of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. She received a suspended sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment.
According to a report from social workers, most of the victims were virgins when they were raped and felt the way their virginity was taken away from them left permanent psychological scars. The report also showed that some had suicidal thoughts, while others’ academic performances decreased. Previously, one of the girls testified that Mlombo had raped them one by one in less than two hours.
Their testimonies pointed out that Khoza ordered each one of them to enter a dark room one at a time, where Mlombo was waiting for them. They were under the impression that Mlombo was going to perform “ingoma enkulu” (big initiation), which would signal the end of the initiation period.
The girls entered the dark room dressed in skirts without any underwear. They were instructed to cover their upper bodies with blankets. Mlombo then instructed them to lie down on a grass mat. What he did next, varied from victim to victim.
The court also sought to determine the nature of traditional initiation schools, in order to conclude whether Mlombo and Khoza had deviated from the accepted customs.
In practice, the girls would have stayed at the school for a period of three months, but following the atrocities they endured they wanted to leave the school before the time. He told them that if they left before the period they would go crazy. According to the judge, Mr JJ Strydom, Mlombo abused the trust that was placed in him by the girls’ parents.
“The accused used his occupation as an initiation-school head and prophet to fulfil his ulterior motives,” said the judge.
In his sentencing, Strydom explained the seriousness of the offences to the court room filled mostly with journalists. “It is very important that the court sends a message to potential offenders that raping of underaged girls is a very serious crime,” he said.
He also mentioned that Mlombo had not shown any remorse for his actions and had undermined the court by denying the fact that he had raped the girls. “The accused have also denied raping the girls despite DNA tests proving he raped them,” said Strydom. Furthermore, the judge said he also failed to give a reason why he committed the crimes.
The most disturbing thing about the whole ordeal, according to Ms Sandra Lubisi of the Greater Rape Intervention Programme (GRIP), is that a female was used as an access point to the girls, which she believed was a shame. “The woman was supposed to protect the girls but on the contrary she was used to abuse them,” she said.
Chairman of the Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Mr Kgoshi Mathipha Mokoena, said he is sure that the judgement will give a clear message to those that want to use tradition and culture for their own selfish desires. He also issued a stern warning against initiation schools that do not follow the correct procedures.
Mr Noluvuyo Mfaku, a senior state advocate at the National Prosecuting Authority, believes that the judgement will put an end to gender-based crimes.
