UNCLE GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE

05 SEPTEMBER 2025

UNCLE GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE

The Nongoma Regional Court has sentenced a 34-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his 14-year-old niece. The incident occurred in the KwaDongathuli area in November 2020.

On the day of the incident, the complainant had attended a traditional dance celebration in the area together with her siblings and her aunt. At this celebration, they met the accused, who is the complainant’s uncle. When the complainant and their aunt, and siblings were leaving, the accused said that he would accompany them because he wanted to meet the complainant’s granny (who was his aunt).

Along the way, the aunt took a detour to her homestead, and while the other children were walking ahead, the accused pulled the complainant into a bush and raped her. He had a knife on him and threatened to kill her if she told anyone what he had done. When the complainant and the accused got home, the accused lied to the granny that they were delayed because he had sent the complainant to his girlfriend’s house along the way. He left soon after, and the complainant remained silent. However, the granny noticed that the complainant’s behaviour was unusual and confronted her the following day. The complainant then told her granny what had happened. They reported the matter to the police and took the complainant to a nearby hospital. The accused was arrested thereafter.

In the state’s case, Prosecutor Busisiwe Ndwandwe led the evidence of the complainant, her granny (who was the first report), and the medical doctor from the hospital. In addition, Ms Ndwandwe handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS), compiled by the complainant, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Bhekithemba Hopewell Sithole. In her statement, the complainant said that after the incident, she lived in fear because she thought that the accused would follow through with his threat and kill her. Also, she was afraid to walk alone in the area and had to be accompanied to and from school by her family members. The accused was sentenced accordingly, with the court declaring him unfit to possess a firearm and further ordering that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The NPA remains steadfast in fighting the scourge of sexual offences, and we hope that sentences of this nature demonstrate our commitment.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division

0716700229