A Westonaria man has been slapped with a hefty sentence of 13 years behind bars for the rape of a 37-year-old woman.
This is word from National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane who said the incident occured in Westonaria on March 6.
It is understood that Elias Nkete approached the victim in question, while she was returning from work, and grabbed her from behind.
“The victim tried to resist by fighting Nkete but he overpowered her and raped her once. Nkete managed to flee the scene,” said Mjonondwane.
She added that Nkete was at large until informers were tasked to trace him.
As such, he was then arrested on another farm on April 27 in Fochville.
State Advocate Moss Mahlala argued that the victim was severely affected and left traumatised by the incident and that the incident happened at a time when the country was faced with a dark cloud of gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, Nkete was in custody until his matter was finalised due to two more counts of rape which occurred back in 2008.
