A TRADITIONAL healer from the St Faiths area was found guilty on three charges of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment on each count in the regional court in Ixopo on Wednesday, July 31.
During July 2009 three boys aged eight, nine and 10 years respectively, reported to their families that they had been sexually molested by Phankamani Mahlanze, who was 19 years old at the time.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid said the matter was reported to the police and Detective Sergeant Beautus Cele from the Port Shepstone Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) began investigating the docket.
“Mahlanze was arrested shortly afterwards and during the investigation, it was established that he offered the boys money while they were herding cattle. He instructed them to lie on the ground and raped them,” she said.
Mahlanze made several appearances at Phungashe Court and the matter was later transferred to the Regional Court in Ixopo.
