WHAT started as a minor crime investigation escalated to a major arrest as police linked a petty criminal to an unsolved rape.
Sandile Zungu (28) of eSikhaleni was arrested for robbery on 25 April after he had allegedly assaulted an elderly man three days before, robbing him of R50 and a cellphone worth R200.
However, detectives soon linked him to a rape which occurred in January 2015.
It is believed Sandile visited the 40-year-old victim’s home in eSikhaleni under the pretext of looking for her husband, then forced his way into the house and raped her.
He also stole two cellphones before fleeing the scene.
The Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced Zungu to 10 years imprisonment for the rape and robbery, and a further eight years for armed robbery.
