FOUR men found guilty of raping under aged girls within the City uMhlathuze have been convicted and sentenced.
On Monday Skhosiphi Shange (51) of Kwahlaza in Empangeni was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment at the Empangeni Regional Court for raping a 14-year-old.
Later, Nkosinathi Gonya (32) was given the same sentence for raping a then 18-year-old girl of Ntambanana.
At the eSikhawini Regional Court on the same day, Bonga Sibiya (47) was handed a 25 year imprisonment sentence for raping an eight-year-old, while Babayi Ndlovu (29) received 15 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a three-year-old in Mtunzini.
According to police crime statistics released in September 2012, there were a total of 64 514 sexual offences which were reported countrywide for that period.
This figure excludes unreported rape cases.
However, some studies estimate that if all rapes were reported, the figures could be as high as 500 000.
KZN Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the conviction and sentencing of the men.
‘The ruthless and barbaric attack of children by criminals will not be tolerated in our society and we welcome the sentences handed down by the court,’ she said.
MEC for Social Development, Weziwe Thusi said the sentencing imposed was particularly significant as the country observes Child Protection Week.
‘Child protection is everyone’s business and as a society we must act decisively against those who seek to destroy our children because they are our future,’ said Thusi.
KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu called on all elected public representatives to publicly take a stand against rape and all forms of sexual abuse against women and children.
‘Leaders of government at all levels are not vocal enough in fighting rape and to a large extent, elected leaders are not providing strong leadership when it comes to eradicating this problem from our society.’
‘Rape is the worse form of exploitation of a human being and this act should solicit an overwhelming rejection from all of us as elected representatives of our people,’ he said.
Sound good ,polices and law iz working now ,men stop this things iz not right ,be a man ,how can u rape your child ?#nkosi jesu salu subuya we need you now # sengathi amandoda awasahambi nge Vision yakho baba to proctet the family ,to haed of the home,now they become the tail ,nkosi jesu