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Triumphantly, Vryheid serial rapist, Chris Thabede, has received eight life sentences and an additional 36 years from the Madadeni Magistrate’s Court.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) welcomed the sentencing, as Thabede has been terrorising women since 2010. DAWN’s leader, Shenana Kajee, explains, “He is charged for the rape of eight women including a 67-year-old woman. This is definitely a step in the right direction for our justice system. We are, however, disheartened at the time it took for the sentencing to be finally handed down on the perpetrator.”
Looking at this issue, she highlights that the prolonged process to hand down judgments has become a norm in the justice system, with Kajee stating, “The government is doing little to nothing to address this.”
Adding to this, she points out that after the DA had written parliamentary questions to the provincial Community Safety MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni, it was revealed that KZN currently has a staggering 8 388 DNA forensic case backlog, dating back as far as February 2020. “A total of 5 400 of the cases relate to sexual assault.
She stresses that DNA testing forms a considerable part in cases of sexual assault and rape, and with the backlog at testing laboratories, such cases are then prolonged. Baring this in mind, Kajee explains, “Victims have to then relive their trauma and live in fear until there is sufficient evidence from these laboratories to jail the perpetrators.”
The DAWN leader further believes the prolonged processes make it easy for perpetrators to continue terrorising the vulnerable. “They are not scared of the law knowing that they will not be jailed. As a result, women and children continue to suffer.”
Reflecting further on the matter, she points out that brutal crimes against women have proven why KZN has been dubbed the “Rape Capital” of the country during the past week.
Moreover, Kajee pointed out three cases reflecting the sordid state of affairs, namely an incident where a 66-year-old woman was raped and brutally killed by her grandson in uMlazi. A 21-year-old woman from Mzimkhulu whom her 26-year-old boyfriend brutally murdered. The victim had reportedly opened multiple cases of abuse against the boyfriend but later dropped the charges. Lastly, a 38-year-old woman from Port Shepstone who was shot and killed by her police officer boyfriend. “Until there is a serious intervention from government, women and children will continue living in fear.”
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