Court in Limpopo sentences rapist to life imprisonment

LIMPOPO – The Waterval Regional Court on Friday, 29 October handed down a life imprisonment sentence to a 35-year-old rapist. The sentence emanated from an incident where a 26-year-old woman was raped in the Hlanganani Policing area outside Giyani in 2017. Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe explained: “On 13 June the victim was on her way to attend a night prayer in Babangu village and she met up with the accused, Happy Ndlovu at around 19:00 in Noblehoek village. The prayer was cancelled, however the accused told the victim that the session would be conducted and convinced her to stay. Later the evening he apparently convinced her to accompany him to his place of residence. While walking home, the accused then dragged the victim to the nearby bushes and raped her. Afterwards, he managed to force her to his home where he raped her repeatedly.” After the incident she reported the rape to the police. A rape case was opened and assigned to Det Const Vutomi Maluleke, who is attached to the Police Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Giyani. The case was investigated and the accused was arrested. The court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.