A 34-year-old Newcastle man has been sentenced to life imprisonment following the kidnapping, savage assault, and rape of a woman, whom he subsequently abandoned unconscious within the confines of a local cemetery.
Detailing the case, the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, explained that the Madadeni Regional Court sentenced Siyabonga Christopher Xulu to life and five years’ imprisonment.
The charges involve the kidnapping and rape of a woman in Osizweni during June 2019.
As explained by Ramkisson-Kara, the victim had attended a social gathering in the area and was returning home during the early hours of the morning. While en route, she encountered Xulu, who was accompanied by two other men.
“She recognised Xulu as someone from her neighbourhood, but the other two men were unknown to her. They grabbed her, and dragged her to an open field, where the two unknown men left her alone with Xulu. Xulu tried to undress the complainant and due to her resistance, he punched and strangled her, eventually overpowering her.”
After subduing the woman, Xulu proceeded to rape her twice before dragging her unconscious body to a nearby cemetery, where he abandoned her.
“Once she regained consciousness, the complainant went to a nearby homestead and reported her ordeal,” stated Ramkisson-Kara.
The woman was subsequently taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medico-legal assistance. Ramkisson-Kara noted that Xulu was tracked and arrested after he was linked to the crime by DNA evidence and positively identified by the complainant.
However, Ramkisson-Kara observed, “Since the complainant could not identify the two men who had participated in the kidnapping along with Xulu, they were not found.”
During the state’s case, Ramkisson-Kara explained that Prosecutor Zama Zikalala led the testimonies of the complainant, the individual who received the initial report, and the medical practitioner who conducted the forensic examination.
“The evidence of the J88 form and the positive DNA results also formed part of the state’s case. In her evidence, the complainant told the court that following the incident she has become distrusting of men. She said that she has suffered physical injuries and psychological trauma because of the incident,” she elaborated.
Xulu was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and five years for kidnapping.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently and further declared the defendant unfit to possess a firearm.
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FAQs:
The Madadeni Regional Court sentenced Siyabonga Christopher Xulu to life imprisonment for rape and five years for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently, and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The crimes occurred in Osizweni during June 2019, where the victim was attacked while walking home from a social gathering.
The accused was linked to the crime through DNA evidence and was also positively identified by the complainant during the investigation.
The victim was taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre for medico-legal assistance, where medical examinations and forensic evidence were collected to support the case.
Prosecutor Zama Zikalala led the state’s case, presenting testimony from the complainant, witnesses, medical evidence from the J88 form, and DNA results.
3 Responses
We thank for that we appreciate what state did to Mr Xulu
We appreciate what the states did ro Mr Xulu he deserves life sentence very good
My Sincere condolences to all the family and friends so very sad