Courts throw book at rapists
A man has been handed a life sentence for raping a five-year-old child in Izingolweni.
TWO rape victims aged five and 14 years will probably bear the emotional scars for life, but at least courts have sent out a clear message that little mercy will be shown to perpetrators.
One rapist was sentenced to life and another to 20 years for the two crimes recently.
“These sentences should be a clear message that the police are serious about apprehending people for crimes of such a cruel nature,” said police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka.
The two separate cases were solved by ace Detective Constable Siboniso Gcaba from the Margate Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
* Sandile Fana ‘Ngemi’ Mthembu (24) was found guilty of raping a five-year-old child in Nqabeni, near Harding on January 12. The girl was on her way back from the shop when Mthembu took her into the bush and raped her. The mother became worried and had to search for her.
Mthembu had been seen earlier walking along the road with the girl and the angry community tried to apprehend him, but in vain.
However, slick police work by Det Cst Gcaba revealed that Mthembu had attended a funeral in the area on the day of the rape. He then traced him to Inanda, Durban, and arrested him three days later.
Magistrate Siyabonga Ngesi sentenced him to life imprisonment on November 10.
* Detective Constable Gcaba was also instrumental in investigating the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Izingolweni on July 23. Police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfkea said the teenager had attended afternoon studies at a local school.
“On her way home she was taken at knife point to a house where she was raped repeatedly by Senzo Lucky Shabane (26).
He was arrested and pleaded guilty to Magistrate Ngesi at Izingolweni court on October 28. Senzo was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
