South Africa News

3 Men sentenced to life in jail for RAPE

Three men who raped two high school girls in 2015 have finally been sentenced. 35-year-old Monwabisi Dyasi, Lubabalo Mbulawa (26) and Samkelo Qampi (28) were sentenced to life in jail by the Cala Regional Court on Wednesday.

The three were sentenced to a further eight years imprisonment on a charge of housebreaking with intent to commit a crime. Mbulawa was given an additional two-year sentence for theft.

NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said evidence presented in court is that the two high school friends, aged 18 and 20, had a weekend sleepover in one of the girls’ home in Upper Mnxe Village in Cala on October 2015.

“When they were about to go to bed at the homestead, where there was no one else but the two teenagers, the three men broke in,” said Tyali.

“ The intruders threatened the two teenagers with knives and took turns raping them multiple times until the early hours of the following day.”

Before fleeing the scene, Tyali said, Mbulawa stole the jacket of one of the victims.

“The following morning the victims alerted neighbours and the matter was reported to the Cala Police Station.

“The three men, who were known to one of the victims, were arrested.”

Tyali said during the trial, the trio pleaded not guilty.

“Two of them, who were linked to the offence by DNA, claimed they had consensual sex with the victims while one claimed to have an alibi,” he said.

“Under cross-examination by prosecutor Monde Magenu, the three men contradicted themselves and the court found their account to be highly improbable, convicted them and sentenced them.

“We welcome the sentence with the hope that it will serve as a deterrent to like-minded rapists who intend targeting vulnerable women.”

Source: Daily Sun