TWO men were sentenced to life terms for rape by the KwaDukuza Regional Court on Thursday, 15 December.
Nhlakanipho Mthethwa (19) and Sibusiso Sithole (20) were also found guilty of house robbery and kidnapping, for which they each received 20 years imprisonment.
Their sentencing came after the court heard how the two had attacked a couple in the Mangethe area, near Mandeni.
It was reported that at around 8pm on 25 January last year, a 39-year-old woman and her fiancée were attacked by the two men who broke down the door and gained entry to their house.
They demanded cell phones and cash before kidnapping the woman.
She was taken to a nearby bush and repeatedly raped.
The charge docket was transferred to KwaDukuza Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.
Both accused were arrested the following day and made several court appearances before they were convicted and sentenced.
KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj Gen Bheki Langa welcomed the heavy sentence handed to the accused.
‘These sentences will send a message to those who keep on engaging themselves in criminal activities.
‘It will also send a strong message to other criminals who target the vulnerable women and children,’ said Langa.
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