In three different cases involving a toddler, a mentally ill woman and a teenager, four rapists were handed life sentences at the Lusikisiki Regional Court on the 28th of June 2023.
Avela Somhlahlo (30) and Thobela Khulani (35), were sentenced for raping a three-year-old boy and a mentally ill woman respectively.
Nathi Chithelo (32) and Athenkosi Gcambaza (25), were sentenced for raping an 18-year-old woman.
According to a statement by Luxolo Tyali, the Eastern Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA), Somhlahlo pleaded guilty to raping his toddler nephew on 08 September 2021. when his sister, the mother of the victim, was away from home This took place at Ngobozana Area, also in Lusikisiki.
“Somhlahlo admitted he promised to buy the victim sweets and lured him to his room where he anally penetrated him. He was arrested after the victim reported to his mother, who took him to St Elizabeth Hospital Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC). The victim was badly injured, so much so that he uses an artificial instrument to relieve himself,” Tyali said.
In the other case, Khulani also entered a plea of guilty following his connection through DNA to the rape of a mentally ill and mute woman on 28 July 2021 in Mantlaneni Area, still in Lusikisiki.
He was arrested after the woman showed her mother what had happened to her by pointing to her private part. The mother immediately went to open a case and the victim was taken to the St Elizabeth TCC where DNA swabs were taken.
Later, the victim was later able to point out Khulani after the community had rounded all men in the village and organised an impromptu identity parade.
Lastly, on 15 January 2023, the
victim was walking home from school in the KwaNyathi area in Lusikisiki, when she was accosted by Chithelo and Gcambaza, who were unknown to her.
The duo threatened the girl with a knife and instructed her to follow them to a house still under construction.
“They then took turns raping her before fleeing. After her ordeal, the victim alerted the first person she met on her way, and the community was mobilised, leading to the arrest of the two within the vicinity. They were then handed over to the police,” Tyali said.
At the trial, the two men pleaded not guilty, with Chithelo claiming that the victim was his girlfriend, and his accomplice saying the victim consented to a “threesome”.
“In all the cases, Regional Court Magistrate Zanekhaya Gxarisa agreed with Acting Regional Court prosecutor Justice Tsala’s submissions that there were no compelling circumstances for a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment,” said Tyali.
He added that Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the prosecutor, the TCC staff and the investigating officers, saying the sentences were “a clear indication that the NPA’s strategies targeted at Lusikisiki, dubbed the ‘rape capital of South Africa’, were bearing fruit.”
ARTICLE BY MANDLA ZIBI// EDITED BY CWAYITA ZWENI