MORE than three years after his arrest, the man accused of raping 25 boys at Nkosiyethu Primary School in Nongoma was convicted as charged and sentenced to life behind bars at Mtubatuba High Court yesterday.
Jabulani Sibiya (29), who was employed as the House Master of Nkosiyethu Primary School’s boarding establishment, was in 2012 arrested after a handful of boys reported to have suffered abuse in 2011.
Sibiya was charged with 54 counts of sexual molestation but pleaded not guilty and elected to remain silent.
This action forced his young victims to recount the abuse as they testified from the safety of a separate room under the guidance of an intermediary.
Only after his victims had testified did Sibiya change his plea to one of guilty.
At the conclusion of the trial, Sibiya underwent court ordered psychological evaluation.
After an extensive assessment, Dr Dunn, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Fort Napier Hospital, concluded that Sibiya was not mentally ill but a psychopath with a ‘defect of character’.
Furthermore, Dunn said Sibiya, having known his actions were unlawful, was untreatable and posed a danger to society.
In summation, Judge van Zyl said Sibiya ‘systematically abused the trust placed in him’ and ‘potentially ruined his victims’ lives’.
‘This case must be classified as one of the most heinous imaginable,’ said Van Zyl.
Although charged with over 50 counts of sexual molestation, which included numerous counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual grooming, concurrent life sentences for the rape charges would, according to Van Zyl, become unrealistic.
Sibiya was sentenced to life in prison and Van Zyl requested the parole board review his psychopathy prior to considering parole in the future.
Sibiya will serve his sentence at Qalakabusha Prison in Empangeni.
Speaking after sentencing, Principal of Nkosiyethu Primary School, Dumisani Mtshali, said he was happy with the outcome, justice had been served and Sibiya’s victims finally had closure.
Brian Thabede, the School Governing Body Chairperson, echoed these sentiments.
