LIFE AND ONE YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE AND ASSAULT 

29 AUGUST 2025 

LIFE AND ONE YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE AND ASSAULT 

The Maphumulo Regional Court has sentenced a 39-year-old man to life imprisonment and a year's imprisonment for the rape and the assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (assault GBH) of his partner in September 2023 in the Mambhedwini area. The accused and complainant lived together and were in a domestic relationship. On the day of the incident, the accused was drunk, and he got into an argument with the complainant, accusing her of infidelity. He then raped her. 

The complainant fled to their neighbour's house, where she stayed the night and reported the matter to the police the next morning. The accused was arrested thereafter. The complainant went to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. 

In the state’s case, the prosecutor, Bongani Sibisi, led the evidence of the complainant as well as the evidence of the first report. The doctor from the hospital also testified in court. In aggravation of sentence, Mr. Sibisi handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by the complainant, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Senzeni Mthethwa, wherein the complainant said that she had suffered ongoing physical and verbal abuse from the accused. This was often done in the presence of their minor child. 

The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, and one year imprisonment for assault GBH. The accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm, and the court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. Cases of sexual violence encroach on the rights to dignity and privacy of the victims, as enshrined in our Constitution, and the NPA will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases. 

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara 

NPA Regional Spokesperson 

KZN Division 

0716700229