Rapist sentenced to life imprisonment
Instead of returning to the party, Mbatha drove to his homestead in KwaMbonambi, where he locked her up and raped her twice during the night.
A MAN who raped a woman twice after luring her away from a party at a Richards Bay flat, was sentenced to life imprisonment and another five years for kidnapping the victim.
Sinothi Mbatha, now in his early 30s, was convicted in the Richards Bay Regional Court last week, almost seven years after the incident.
He appeared before Presiding Magistrate Logan Naidoo, who handed down sentence in accordance with the Criminal Law Amendment Act, which prescribes life imprisonment as a minimum sentence when a victim is raped more than once.
According to evidence, led by Regional Court Prosecutor Sharon Bux, the woman and the accused were among other guests at the party.
During the course of the evening, Mbatha said he wanted to go and buy drinks and invited her to accompany him.
But instead of returning to the party, Mbatha drove to his homestead in KwaMbonambi, where he locked her up and raped her twice during the night.
The State led DNA evidence collected from a bed sheet at Mbatha’s home, which linked him to the crime.
In aggravation of sentence, Bux introduced a victim impact statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Mandisa Sikakane, who assisted the victim to explain how Mbatha’s crime affected her life and the psychological trauma she had endured during the ordeal.
She said she wanted to die.
Mbatha was initially charged with raping and kidnapping two women on different dates and the State led the evidence of the second complainant at the start of the trial.
However, Mbatha changed legal representatives on numerous occasions, causing delays in the matter.
The second victim could not be traced and the prosecution was stopped as a result.
Following his conviction, Bux proved a previous conviction of kidnapping and rape, which puts Mbatha in the category of a serial rapist.
The sentences will run concurrently.
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