COURTS in the Zululand region made a bold statement last week pertaining to rape.
In five separate rape cases, five accused were sentenced to imprisonment, which included one life imprisonment and two minors being sentenced.
On Wednesday the Inkanyezi Regional Court in eShowe found Phumlani Bhekisisa Cele (29), arrested by eShowe FCS members in 2016, guilty as charged for raping an 11-year-old girl in the KwaMagwaza area, outside Melmoth and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
On the same day, the Nkandla Regional Court found Buhlebakhe Nkosinathi Buthelezi (24) guilty on two counts of rape.
He was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment on Count 1, and Count 2 – five years’ imprisonment, a total sentence of 18 years.
On Thursday, the Melmoth District Court found Mzomuhle Sibiya guilty as charged for raping his nine-year-old sister in Nkandla.
The district court sent him to jail for ten years.
That same day the Melmoth District Court also found a 14-year-old boy guilty of raping an eight-year-old girl in Melmoth.
The accused had been arrested in 2016 and released under his parent’s supervision. He was sentenced to jail for four years on condition that he undergoes treatment at a rehabilitation centre.
On Thursday, a 16-year-old was found guilty by Nkandla District Court for raping a 9-year-old girl and sent him to jail for eight years, on condition that he is admitted to a rehabilitation centre for treatment.
ALSO READ: Nquthu men charged with rape
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