A 30-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday after the Mtunzini Regional Court found him guilty of raping his six-year-old niece.
It is alleged on 30 August 2016 Siboniso Hlabisa sent his niece to charge his phone at their neighbour’s house.
While the victim was on her way back home, Hlabisa was already waiting for her and forced her into the nearby bushes where he raped her.
The accused’s brother became suspicious after he saw the victim and the suspect coming from the bushes.
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He asked the grandmother to question the victim and she told her what transpired.
A case of rape was opened at Mtunzini police station and transferred to the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation and Hlabisa was arrested on the same day.
Unit Commander of Empangeni FCS Colonel Makhosi Ncube said she is pleased with the performance of her team.
‘I would like to say thank you to investigating officer, Sergeant Nongcebo Shandu and I want to commend the work done by my office that surely proves that no one will prey on the women and children within the King Cetshwayo Cluster and walk away free.
‘I also want to commend the work done by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the staff for their commitment in sexual offence cases such as this one,’ she said.
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