HOPING in vain that there is safety in numbers, three women living under one roof in Ntambanana were threatened with firearms, robbed of cell phones, assaulted and raped by Xolani Mbuyisa (29) and Xolani Shongwe (32).
On Friday the Mtubatuba High Court convicted and sentenced the men to three charges of life imprisonment each for rape, 15 years for housebreaking and robbery with an additional six months for assault, which are to run concurrently.
In January of 2012 at about 1am, the three women aged between 23 and 29 were in their home when Mbuyisa and Shongwe attacked them.
A case of rape was opened by the victims at the Ntambanana SAPS which was investigated by Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
Following an intensive investigation by the Empangeni FCS three men were arrested the following day and were positively identified by the victims.
The other accused Khayelihle Nkomeni Mthembu (25) died after a short illness.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the conviction handed to the accused, expressing her confidence in the judicial system.
‘The sentences handed down will send a clear message to like-minded would-be offenders that the police will trace, arrest and successfully prosecute them,’ said Ngobeni.
