A 17-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother are in a deep slumber, never expecting their lives were going to change forever. Their very world is shaken to the core.
It was February 18, 2017. At 00.45am, three men forced their way into a house situated in Fairbreeze, Dannhauser. They slipped silently into the house before waking the siblings up. Armed with knives, the men demanded the teenage girl hand over her cell phone and cash.
However, their demands did not end there. They assaulted the young girl, demanding sex. Fearing for her brother’s safety, she submitted to the men’s demands. Each taking a turn to rape her several times.
After tiring from raping the girl repeatedly, the three men left the house. Before leaving the house, they took the television, cell phone and other property.
But the teenager refused to remain silent, reporting the matter to the SAPS. The case was handed over to the Newcastle Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
With the investigations underway, the identity of the three men unknown, the girl’s mother returned to Fairbreeze from Johannesburg. Once at home, she sent her children to live at a neighbour as she stayed at their home.
But this proved to be a mistake. On March 25, 2017, the children’s mother was woken up by a strange man.
“He threatened to kill her, saying he was there to finish her daughter off because they knew she opened a case. The suspect then raped her three times that night and then left. She also immediately reported the matter to the police. The investigation was then handed to the Newcastle FCS Unit,” says Detective Captain Nagesh Moothilal of FCS
ON March 28, 2017, after an intense investigation by Captain Moothilal and his FCS team, there was a breakthrough in the case and all three suspects were arrested.
Clothing worn by the suspects, as well as the TV, were recovered. One suspect was also linked to the stolen cell phone. Two suspects made confessions, which they later recanted at their subsequent trial. Two suspects were also linked by DNA exhibits. They were also identified durig an Identification Parade by both victims.
The trial commenced on 24 April 2018 at the Madadeni High Court. On November 8, all three accused were found guilty on all counts.
The men were recently sentenced for their crimes. Their charges and sentences are as follows:
Accused 1: Siboniso Malevu was charged with housebreaking, with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. For this, he receives a sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
He also faced five counts of rape for the rape of the 17-year-old girl. He received life imprisonment for each count.
Accused 2: Thokozane Andries Khumalo was charged with housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. For this, he received 15 years imprisonment.
Furthermore, he faces five counts of rape for the rape of the teenage girl and three counts of rape for raping the teenager’s mother. For the five counts of rape of the teenager, he faces life imprisonment for each count. He receives a further three life imprisonment sentences, for the three rape counts on the teenager’s mother.
Accused 3: Vusumuzi Zungu was charged with housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances and five counts of rape for the rape of the teenager. He faces 15 years imprisonment for the housebreaking charge and life imprisonment for each rape charge.
Well done to the FCS unit for ensuring the three men will no longer be able to prey on innocent women.
