A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and rape of a woman in Osizweni, Newcastle, reports the Northern Natal News.

The incident happened in June 2019.

Siyabonga Christopher Xulu was sentenced in the Madadeni Regional Court on Monday, which also imposed an additional five years’ imprisonment for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently.

The night of the crime

The NPA spokesperson in KZN, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the complainant had gone to a party at a neighbouring homestead on the night of the incident.

She left the gathering in the early hours of the morning and, while walking home, encountered Xulu and two other men. The complainant recognised Xulu from the neighbourhood, but did not know the other two men.

“They grabbed her and dragged her to an open field, where the two unknown men left her alone with Xulu,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

She told the court that Xulu attempted to undress her and, when she resisted, assaulted her until he overpowered her.

“He then raped her twice before dragging her to a nearby graveyard, where he left her.”

The woman went for help at a nearby homestead and reported the incident.

She was then taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre for medico-legal assistance.

Xulu was later arrested after being linked to the crime through DNA evidence. He was also positively identified by the complainant. The two other men involved in the kidnapping have not been traced.

Sentencing

During the trial, state prosecutor Zama Zikalala led the evidence of the complainant, the first report witness and the doctor who conducted the medical examination. The J88 medical report and positive DNA results were also submitted to the court.

In her testimony, the complainant said the incident had left her physically injured and psychologically traumatised.

She added that she had become fearful and distrusting of men.

In addition to the prison sentence, Xulu was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

“Curbing the scourge of sexual offences and gender-based violence remains an organisational priority for the National Prosecuting Authority, and we remain resolute in our fight for justice on behalf of victims of crime,” Ramkisson-Kara said.

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