MALUTI – The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit Commander in Matatiele commended the sterling work by detectives who secured over 100 years of direct imprisonment in three cases.
The Kokstad Regional Court convicted and sentenced Bongani Crayon Qokela, aged 25, to 20 years direct imprisonment for rape. This comes after a 38-year-old woman (victim) managed to identify him as one of two suspects, who stormed into her house in Cedarville and took turns in raping her. The incident occurred on Saturday, 04 March 2017.
In another incident, the Maluti Regional Court has sentenced Letuka Ramatlats, aged 34, to 12 imprisonment for raping his 28-year-old girlfriend in Maluti almost two years ago. On Wednesday, 16 December 2020, the accused was sleeping with his then girlfriend, when he raped her in her sleep. The victim woke up and went to the police to report the matter.
Earlier this month, the two sentences were preceded by the conviction of a habitual criminal and rapist, Sandile Shadrack Mzikathole (40), who was sentenced to a total of 70 years imprisonment by the Scottburgh High Court. Mzikathole was convicted and sentenced on 11 cases which included the following charges:
Housebreaking with intent to rape (four charges)
Rape (three charges)
Theft
Attempted rape
Robbery common (two charges)
The Matatiele FCS Unit commander, Captain Mvango indicated her satisfaction with the sterling work of her detectives. “Despite the fact that some cases are taking too long to finalise, but justice has eventually prevailed. In three separate cases, they managed to secure a total of 102 years. These hefty sentences are sending out a strong message that women must be respected”, added Capt Mvango
