ELUKWATINI – The Carolina Regional Court imposed a life sentence on a 26-year-old man who raped a two-year-old girl in 2014.
Mr Bongani Sunday Mahlangu was sentenced for the crime he committed on September 4, 2014 when he removed the nappy of a two-year-old baby girl who was left by her mother in the care of his grandmother in Dlamini “D”section in Badplaas.
The baby sustained severe injuries.
According to Elukwatini police spokesperson, Const Peace Mbokane, a rape case was opened against Mahlangu who was not immediately arrested because the victim was unable to talk for herself and to link him to the crime.
However, due to the commitment of the investigating officer, Det Const Mmeli Nkosi of the family violence, child protection and sexual offence (FCS ) unit, Mahlangu was finally linked to the crime five months later.
“His blood samples and exhibits from the victim were sent to the forensic laboratory. After a period of five months, the results came back positively linking the suspect to the crime. Nkosi has secured three other life sentences since his arrival in this police station,” explained Mbokane.
In a separate incident, a 41-year-old Mozambican man was arrested for the rape of his girlfriend’s nine-year-old granddaughter.
It is alleged that on April 13, the man entered the minor’s bedroom while his girlfriend was sleeping in their bedroom.
“When the complainant woke up in the middle of the night and found that her boyfriend was not in their bedroom, she began to look for him and find him naked in the minor’s bed,” explained Mbokane.
“The child told her that he had raped her and had done so twice before,” continued Mbokane.
The case was then reported to the police and the suspect was arrested. He appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court on April 20.