Push Back Against GBV+F Pays Dividends As Another Rapist And Murderer Was Sentenced To Three Life Terms

The fight against gender-based violence received a much-desired boost as rapist and murderer, Leonard Mzingeli, was sentenced to three life terms and 15 years imprisonment. The High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division convicted Mzingeli, on two counts of rape, attempted murder and murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of Grace Mafadu,  15 years imprisonment for her attempted murder, life imprisonment for the rape of Amahle Quku, and life imprisonment for her murder. The court declared him unfit to possess a firearm, ordered that his name be entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders and that the judgment be handed to the Provincial Commissioner of Police so that what happened to Mafadu and Quku, does not happen again.

The latter order relates to alleged police inaction, following Mafadu’s rape and attempted murder on the evening of 26 October 2019, after she was accosted by Mzingeli, near Siyangena Informal Settlement, in Brown’s Farm, Philippi. The Prosecutor, Adv. Rene Uys told the court that Mafadu, survived after her friends decided to take her to the hospital. Doctors assisted her with breathing and immediately operated on her, to save her life. The doctor who operated on her told the court that she would have died within six hours following her attack. The doctor opened a case with Nyanga police, but it is alleged that police never followed up on the case. Mafadu also testified that she was visited at the hospital, by people who claimed that they were police and wanted to take a statement from her, but nothing happened after that. After being discharged from the hospital, she went to Nyanga Police Station to find out about her case, but without any joy.

Eight months later, she recognised Mzingeli’s face, as it was posted on social networks following Quku’s murder. She went back to the police and showed them the person who raped and stabbed her. Quku, 17, was raped and strangled on the evening of 19 June 2020, near Browns Farm, Philippi. Arguing for a strong sentence that fit the crimes, Adv. Uys said: “Sadly, the conviction and sentencing of accused, who commit the offence of rape is not acting as a deterrent, and the statistics are not in society’s favour. The state submits that even so, there must be no compromise in imposing suitable sentencing, which can act as a protective measure for future possible victims.

“The long-term effect of the rape on the complainant, cannot be quantified with certainty. The difficulty the court faces is that the long-term impact of this offence cannot be determined now, or ever in respect of Grace Mafadu, or the long-term effects in respect of the impact of Amahle QuKu’s death, on her family and friends,” she argued.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western cape Adv. Nicolette Bell hailed the sentence, saying the fight against GBV+F is going to be long and arduous, but the rewards will be huge and will benefit generations to come. “It is a fight we need to pour all our resources in. It is a fight we cannot lose. It is for this reason that, we as the NPA have made it one of our top three priorities nationally. I am convinced that with all the resources at our disposal, the commitment and the skill we have as our prosecutors, we will make a difference in every case we come across, as long as there is enough evidence, that will guide us to a successful prosecution,” she assured.

Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za

Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila

National Prosecuting Authority

Regional Communications Manager

Western Cape

Tel: (021) 487 7308Mobile: 073 062 1222

Email: entabazalila@npa.gov.za