Gender-Based Violence Victim Gets Justice, A Man Is Sentenced To Life For Rape

The Qumbu Regional Court sentenced Katiso Mpita (31) to life imprisonment for raping his late father’s 51-year-old former girlfriend. The court convicted and sentenced the rapist to life imprisonment for the rape and 12 months for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. An order was made for the sentences to run concurrently.

Sometime before Mpita’s father passed away in 2018, he had an affair with the victim and they had a boy-child together.  After his father’s death, Mpita proposed love to the woman and they had a romantic relationship that she terminated shortly after.

On the night of 12 December 2020, Mpita met a woman walking alone in their village of Nondyandya in the district of Qumbu. He instructed her to accompany him to his home but she refused, he then assaulted her with a stick, strangled and dragged her to his home where he raped her. The following morning, the victim went to report her ordeal at Kat-Kop police station and Mpita was subsequently arrested.

During the trial, Mpita denied ever meeting the victim on the night in question. Prosecutor Bulelani Bhidla submitted a medical report, which confirmed that the victim was sexually assaulted and had injuries consistent with assault with a blunt object and strangling.

Magistrate Noluthando Conjwa rejected Mpita’s claim that the victim might have hurt herself because she was drunk and convicted him as charged. She agreed with the prosecutor’s submission that Mpita was supposed to protect the victim, as she was the mother of his stepbrother, but he took advantage of her vulnerability.

Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, reiterated the National Prosecuting Authority conviction in ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence.   

Issued by:

LUXOLO TYALI

REGIONAL SPOKESPERSON: DPP MTHATHA

0735559292