THE case of the uGobandlovu rapist Mnqobi Myeni was concluded at eSikhawini Regional Magistrate’s Court on Thursday following a dramatic trial proceeding where witnesses supposedly fell ill and fainted before their testimony, and some sources were linked with black magic.
The fake sangoma, who lured his victims with a promise of dispelling their bad luck, was found guilty of four counts of rape by Magistrate S Ngesi.
He will serve 46 years behind bars.
Myeni was arrested after his last victim opened a case against him with police last year. She said he pretended to be a traditional doctor but then sexually assaulted her.
‘He asked me to go with him for the cleansing ceremony, but when we were there, he pulled out a long knife and a gun. He then raped me in the bushes and said if I told anyone he would turn my son into a zombie.’
Other victims came forward after the last victim laid charges. It was revealed his first victim was a six-year-old cousin in 1994.
She told the court how her cousin sexually assaulted her in the banana bushes when she was only six. Testifying as an adult, she said the incident was reported to the family, but elders decided to deal with the matter internally.
His second victim was 33-year-old Bongiwe Khoza who was raped by Myeni and his friend Boy on 15 June 2004.
Bongiwe had told the court that he first demanded his friend to rape her while he watched. Few minutes late he also raped her in the bushes at night.
The case was reported to police, however, the state prosecutor at that time decided to withdraw charges.
On Christmas day 2004, a family friend Nompumelelo Dlamini was his third victim. She said they were coming from her friend’s place when he pulled a long knife and gun and raped her in the bushes.
Myeni received 15 years for the first count, 10 years for the second count, six years on the third count and 15 years for the last count.
The eSikhaleni community praised the justice system for the heavy punishment and welcomed the sentencing.
More victims are expected to come forward.
Fake sangoma guilty of rape
13 FEBRUARY 2014
AN eSikhaleni man, who lured his victim with a promise of dispelling her bad luck, was found guilty on four counts of rape at the eSikhawini Regional Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Nqobile Myeni was arrested in 2013 after his last victim opened a case against him at the police station.
She told the court how he claimed to be a sangoma, who would remove bad spirits from her body.
She said he took her into the bushes and demanded she take off her clothes, while holding her at gunpoint.
Other victims also came forward after the last victim laid a charge.
It was revealed that his first victim in 1994 was a 15-year-old cousin who had informed her family. However, the matter was not dealt with.
His second victim also testified that he ordered her to accompany him to her friend’s house, but then sexually assaulted her on the way back home.
Magistrate Ngesi found him guilty on all charges.
His sentence will be handed down on Thursday (today).
I like the way justice work for Eskhaleni people i would be very glad if those called ones would come to fix robery and exploitation cases in my area Kwa-Ngwanase,we live a life of being rapist but we are females our children are suffering they dont see their mummies as they are staying with their married biological fathers we are like people who are in jail we have no permission to see each other as mon and child because we are afraid that our kids will loose education and life,i will keepon putting to God to save you and give you more power to work this weakedness out.njgumede