SIYABONGA Mhlongo (20) of Ndabayakhe Reserve was last week convicted and sentenced to 23 years imprisonment at the Empangeni Regional Court for the rape and assault of a 19 year-old woman.
It is reported the victim was outside her home cooking, when the accused approached her and began to pull her towards a nearby sugarcane field.
When the victim tried to resist, the accused assaulted and overpowered her, forcing her to the field where he repeatedly raped her. The victim managed to escape and ran to the nearest homestead for help. They assisted her to open a case at Empangeni SAPS.
The case was then transferred to the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for further investigation, leading to his arrest.
The persistence of the KZN FCS unit in solving sexual related cases remains a source of comfort for victims of sexual offences.
KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner Maj Gen Bhekinkosi Langa praised the unit for their hard work and sleepless nights in making sure the accused is convicted and sentenced.
‘It remains a source of concern that despite the police’s hard work in putting these depraved individuals behind bars, our women and children still remain vulnerable to predators who live amongst them.
‘We appeal to parents to take special care in ensuring their children don’t become victims of such crimes,’ he said.
