NEIGHBOR SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF A MINOR

18 September 2025

NEIGHBOR SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE OF A MINOR

Nelspruit, Mpumalanga – The Nelspruit Regional Court has sentenced a 22-year-old Mozambican man residing in Msholozi to life imprisonment for raping a 4-year-old girl. The accused’s name is withheld to protect the victim’s identity. He was convicted of rape and contravening the Immigration Act following an incident on 18 July 2022 in Msholozi, Nelspruit.

The victim’s father sent her to the accused’s house to find his brother, where she found the accused alone. He lured her into his bedroom, undressed her, and raped her. The incident surfaced when the victim’s mother inquired about her whereabouts. The child emerged crying, reporting pain in her private area and identifying the accused as the perpetrator. The mother noticed disarranged clothing and semen on her thighs. When confronted, the accused denied the allegations and fled as neighbours gathered. The victim was taken to Rob Ferreira Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical examination and support, leading to a police case and his arrest without bail.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty, alleging the victim’s father fabricated the claims due to animosity. State Prosecutor Zamo Mathebula presented credible testimony from the victim, supported by intermediary services, the first report, DNA analysis, and a J88 medical report confirming injuries. The court found the state’s evidence compelling and rejected the accused’s defence as implausible.

In aggravation, Mathebula argued that rape is a heinous crime destroying victims’ physical and mental integrity, urging a mandatory life sentence. Magistrate Vanessa Joubert sentenced him to life imprisonment for rape and 2 years for the Immigration Act contravention, with the court declaring him unfit to possess a firearm, unsuitable to work with children, and ordering his name entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The NPA’s fight against sexual violence is bolstered by expanding Thuthuzela Care Centres from 55 in 2020/2021 to 64 currently. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga, Mr Sonja Ntuli, welcomed the sentence, stating, “This conviction sends a clear message that the NPA will relentlessly pursue gender-based violence perpetrators, restoring victims’ safety and dignity.” Ends

Issued by:

Monica Nyuswa

NPA Regional Spokesperson

DPP Mpumalanga

Tel: 013 045 0625 / 076 485 5446

Email: mnyuswa@npa.gov.za