NPA SECURES LIFE SENTENCE AGAINST RAPIST AND MURDERER OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence imposed by the High Court sitting in the Eastern Cape Division, Makhanda, in which Nhlanhla Vinjwa, a 33-year-old Maletswai resident, was sentenced to effective life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl. The court found that on 24 July 2024, the Vinjwa encountered the child while she was on her way to her grandmother’s home and lured her into his residence, where he raped, assaulted, and killed her by strangulation using a belt.

After committing the offences, the perpetrator purchased bus tickets to Gauteng. When his girlfriend returned home, he informed her that they were leaving for Gauteng. Upon entering the shack, she observed the child’s body partially concealed under blankets.

The shack was locked with a chain and padlock, and the keys were handed to a neighbour before the man and his girlfriend departed for Gauteng. Five days later, the body of the deceased was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition after the premises were reopened. The South African Police Service was immediately alerted.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was ligature strangulation and blunt force head trauma, with further injuries consistent with sexual assault.

State Advocate, Nolusindiso Phikiso, led evidence through multiple witnesses and stated that the evidence presented was overwhelming, consistent, and mutually corroborative, leaving no reasonable doubt as to the accused’s guilt, and urged the court to impose the prescribed harshest penalties in view of the brutal and senseless nature of the offences committed against a vulnerable child. The court agreed and accordingly imposed life imprisonment on both counts.

Welcoming the sentence, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions for the Eastern Cape Division, Samkelo Mtwana, commended the prosecution team and law enforcement authorities for their professionalism and the thorough way the case was handled. He said the sentence demonstrates the courts’ unwavering commitment to protecting children and holding perpetrators of violent crime fully accountable.

The NPA reiterates its commitment to the relentless prosecution of crimes against children and all vulnerable persons, ensuring that justice is pursued without fear, favour, or prejudice.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

NPA Regional Spokesperson – Eastern Cape Division