LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MAN WHO RAPED AND ASSAULTED HIS MOTHER
31 JANUARY 2026
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MAN WHO RAPED AND ASSAULTED HIS MOTHER
The Ngwelezane Regional Court has sentenced a 32-year-old man to life and 10 years imprisonment for the rape and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) of his biological mother. The offences were committed in the Nseleni area near Empangeni. The complainant and the accused lived on the same homestead, occupying separate rondavels.
On the evening of 01 December 2024, the complainant was lying in bed with her minor granddaughter when the accused knocked on her door. Upon opening it, the accused began shouting at her, accusing her of speaking about him to other people. Despite her denial, he made threatening remarks and proceeded to undress before physically assaulting her by slapping and punching her. He then forced her onto the bed and raped her, in the presence of the minor child.
In an attempt to escape, the complainant asked for permission to go outside to drink water. When the accused allowed her to do so, the child followed her. The complainant then took the child and fled to a neighbouring homestead, where they spent the night. Due to shock and embarrassment, she initially only reported the assault to her neighbours.
The following morning, the complainant disclosed the full extent of the incident to a relative and was taken to the police station, where a case was opened. She was also referred to the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medico-legal assistance. The accused fled the scene but was arrested two weeks later after being apprehended by his cousins and handed over to the police.
During the trial, the State, represented by Prosecutor Russell Sithembile Mngoma, led evidence from the complainant, the investigating officer, and the medical practitioner who examined the complainant. The State also handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS), compiled by the complainant and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Seneliso Magdalene Sibanda.
In her statement, the complainant described feeling horrified and deeply violated, stating that she never imagined her own child would commit such an act against her. The court ordered that the sentences of life imprisonment and 10 years’ imprisonment run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA’s fight against the scourge of sexual violence has been aided by the expansion of the TCC footprint across the country, which has grown from 55 TCCs in 2020/2021 to 66 TCCs at present. These centres provide comprehensive services and critical support to victims of sexual violence.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KwaZulu-Natal Division
071 670 0229