Life imprisonment for rapist of elderly woman
The rape occurred in 2023 in the KwaCele area. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in the early hours of 18 January 2023, the complainant was asleep in her bed when she felt someone's presence in her room, and she awoke.
NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the accused grabbed her and used his hand to cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
ALSO READ: KZN marks International Children's Day with calls to end violence against children
'He told her he would do as he pleased, and thereafter, he would give her R200. He overpowered the complainant and raped her. Her screams alerted her daughter to the offence, and she came to her mother's rescue,' said Ramkisson-Kara.
Ramkisson-Kara further revealed that the accused then climbed through the bedroom window and fled the scene.
'He was arrested shortly after, at his place of residence, after being pointed out by the complainant and her daughter.
'In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Thanusha Govender told the court that the circumstances of the offence were inhumane. The complainant had a right to feel safe in the sanctity of her own home, however, the accused invaded her privacy.
ALSO READ: No explosion, says Tronox after loud bang prompts evacuation
'Govender also handed in the J88 form, as well as a DNA analysis report. The accused was convicted accordingly, and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm,' added Ramkisson-Kara.
Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA welcomes the life sentence handed down.
'Elderly persons are protected by legislation due to their vulnerability as they age, and ought to be able to live in a peaceful and safe environment. Cases such as this underscore the NPA's commitment to ensuring justice is served, particularly in cases involving crimes against the most vulnerable members of our society, our elderly,' she said.
Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 060 784 2695
Instagram – zululand_observer
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Hawks continuing investigation into mysterious theft of R200 million drugs theft at DCPI offices
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, has confirmed that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this elaborate heist is ongoing, yet clarity remains elusive. Image: File More than four years after R200 million worth of drugs vanished from the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime offices in 2021, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, states that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain uncertain and are still under investigation. At the time, the Hawks announced the launch of an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this unexpected break-in, which set tongues wagging over the R200 million cocaine theft. However, the VP Justice Foundation, through its founder, Visham Panday has questioned whether anyone has been held accountable for the theft. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ With the ongoing spotlight on police inflitration by alleged drug kingpins, Panday has placed the blame squarely on Major General Lesetja Senona, the head of the province's Hawks. "How come General Senona was not suspended when the drugs disappeared from his watch. He is still being paid a salary, when more than 200 million worth of drugs were allegedly stolen. Now that the NPA has launched the investigation, heads are rolling. That surprises us as the VP Justice Foundation, we want to know why Senona and his team are not arrested. We know about the investigation, but the question is, what are they doing about it?" he said. In 2021, responding to the break-in, Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo, in a statement, said the incident was suspected to have occurred between 4 pm and 7 am, after which a case of business burglary having been registered for further investigation. 'The suspects gained entry into the building by forcing open the windows. One of the safes in the office, which was used to store exhibits, was tampered with. The suspects stole 541kg of cocaine drugs to the street value of R200 000 000 and ransacked the office where safes were kept,' she said. This week, Mbambo said the Hawks are investigating the matter stating:"Investigation into the theft of drugs at the DPCI Port Shepstone still continues and details thereof cannot be made available to the public so as to protect the integrity of the investigation." In an email to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Gosai and Incoporated said it is aware of the NPA investigation involving Major General Senona related to the R200 million drug theft. "Our clinet calls for the immediate suspension of General Senona and other implicated persons, pending the finalisation of the investigation and decision, and instructs that he is the person in the possession of the evidence whichhwhich could be of assistence and is prepared to meet with the NPA to handover." However, the NPA was never able to confirm the alleged investigation into the matter following attemps to get comment from the NPA with Generl Senona also not available to respond to the allegations.
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
Zondo blasts Ramaphosa over state capture and corrupt ministers
Zondo speaks of his 'pain' in swearing in corrupt ministers. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo (L) hands over the state capture report to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Building in Pretoria. Picture: Twitter/@PresidencyZA Former chief justice Raymond Zondo has expressed the pain he had to ensure to swear in corrupt cabinet ministers who had serious state capture findings against them Zondo made the remarks on the sidelines of a South African Council of Churches (SACC) anti-corruption summit on Wednesday. State capture commission Rampant corruption was revealed during the hearings before the commission chaired by Zondo that was established in January 2018. The commission, which cost close to R1 billion, wrapped up its proceedings with Zondo handing his final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa in June 2022. About 1,400 individuals were implicated during the commission. It exposed corruption at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), State Security Agency (SSA), Eskom and SABC, and called for prosecutions, further probes, and systemic reforms. ALSO READ: 'Ramaphosa will go down in history as one of the most useless presidents' – analyst Corruption Zondo said that more than 30 years after democracy, corruption had reached crippling levels. He delivered a scathing rebuke to Ramaphosa about the ministers he had appointed to be part of his Cabinet, 'It was like the president was saying, 'I don't care what you have found about these people. I think they are good enough to be promoted,'' Zondo told the Sunday Times. 'The recommendations that were made were based on evidence that was led transparently, when the whole nation was watching… We are defending the report because we believe it is sound. 'But yes, I had to swear them in, remembering what I found against them,' Zondo said in an unprecedented attack by such a senior judicial officer on a sitting president. Ramaphosa response While The Citizen has contacted Ramaphosa's spokesperson for comment, he told the paper the president would not be drawn into a public spat with Zondo. 'The former chief justice has had access to the president whenever there were matters of concern to be discussed. 'The president will respond directly to the former chief justice should [he] seek an opportunity to raise his issues through a direct and constructive engagement,' he said. Presidency report In 2023, the Presidency published a detailed report on the implementation of the actions on Ramaphosa's response to the recommendations of the state capture report. It followed Ramaphosa's own 76-page state capture implementation plan, which he submitted to Parliament in October 2022. The president's response to the recommendations of the state capture inquiry outlined his plan of action, as well as his stance and commitment to fighting corruption within the government. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa's actions on state capture are 'major reforms that will take years' – Presidency report Recommendations In its 16 main recommendations, the Zondo commission found that Parliament failed in its oversight role to hold the executive to account after several state institutions were captured, costing the state billions. It said the recommendations by Zondo were mainly in relation to the national legislature's oversight mandate. Mchunu inquiry Referring to the latest inquiry ordered by Ramaphosa, in which acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will probe the allegations of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Zondo said the way the government had responded to the state capture commission did not bode well. 'My feelings are that people in South Africa have seen how slow the progress is with the implementation of the commission's recommendations, even regarding those recommendations that are being implemented.' '[Will] the same not happen to the [Madlanga] commission … because this commission is also important.' National dialogue Zondo also expressed doubts over the upcoming national dialogue, saying he was concerned about basic failings in the country that should be fixed without having to convene such a forum. 'I don't want to say it's a bad thing … [but] I'm concerned about simple things that don't need a national dialogue. I'm concerned about making sure that in municipalities we have competent people who are doing their job, people who have integrity'. ALSO READ: D-Day for Ramaphosa's plan of action on state capture report 'Ramaphosa inconsistent Zondo told the SACC event on Wednesday that Ramaphosa had been 'inconsistent' in disciplining cabinet ministers implicated in wrongdoing, citing the recent scandals involving the minister of human settlements, Thembi Simelane, embattled police minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on special leave, and the now-fired higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane. 'So the question arises, what is the rule? As a minister, when do you get shifted to another department and continue to be a minister and enjoy your position and benefits even though there are allegations against you? When do you get out on special leave, and when do you get removed? 'The president is the No. 1 citizen in the country. It is very important that the message he sends, through what he does and through what he says, must be consistent,' Zondo said. Swearing in ministers Zondo said this is similar to what happened two years ago. 'I found myself having to swear in ministers against whom I had made adverse findings in the commission. One was a deputy minister who was now promoted to a full minister, and I had to swear them in, knowing the findings I had made. 'Another one was the deputy minister who was a chairperson of the portfolio committee who had previously been minister of transport, and I had made findings against them, and the president was promoting them despite the findings of the commission. What does that do to our fight against corruption?' Zondo said. Ridding SA of corruption Zondo said for the country to effectively rid itself of corruption, it needs to hold the executive to account and not compromise on those who serve in the highest offices of the land. He said that those facing corruption allegations should not be appointed to any positions. 'There are many people who have no allegations of fraud or corruption hanging over their heads who qualify to be ministers,' said Zondo. 'Even in the same party, there is no reason why somebody should be appointed before they clear themselves of such allegations. But also, there are people in public service who are allowed to continue with their work as usual even when there are findings of wrongdoing against them. The state simply allows them to continue. This is not the kind of leadership we need if we are going to fight corruption.' 'Consequences' In November 2022 in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said there must be consequences for those who had plundered South Africa and involved in state capture. He also said the country had learnt its lesson in plundering money over the years of state capture 'As we recover from state capture, we must ensure there are consequences for the perpetrators of state capture. We also need to make sure that public institutions can never be weakened in this way again,' Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa said South Africa needed to build a public service that is professional, ethical and driven by merit. ALSO READ: WATCH: Moeletsi Mbeki criticises Ramaphosa: 'He's been a very weak president'
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Kenny Kunene resigns
Here's your daily news update for Saturday, 26 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes the resignation of suspended Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene as a councillor in the city of Johannesburg, effective immediately. The national commissioner of the South African Police Service (Saps), General Fannie Masemola, and Lesotho police chief Advocate Borotho Matsoso have confirmed a collaborative investigation into allegations of military-style training camps for Basotho on some South African farms. Furthermore, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has expressed serious concern over the leak of a confidential affidavit belonging to a key state witness in the fraud and money laundering case involving self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his co-accused. Weather tomorrow: 27 July 2025 The South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. This is expected between Port Edward and Kosi Bay. A yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds has been issued for the Richtersveld and Nama-Khoi municipalities in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape on Sunday. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Suspended Kenny Kunene resigns as councillor and MMC for transport in Joburg Suspended Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene has resigned as a councillor in the city of Johannesburg with immediate effect. Kunene made the announcement in a letter on Saturday afternoon. Kenny Kunene. Picture: Gallo Images Kunene's resignation comes after the PA deputy leader was seen at the home of Katiso 'KT' Molefe, who has been arrested in connection with the murder of popular South African DJ Oupa John Sefoka, known as DJ Sumbody. CONTINUE READING: Suspended Kenny Kunene resigns as councillor and MMC for transport in Joburg Police investigate allegations of Basotho military-style training camps in South Africa The national commissioner of the South African Police Service (Saps), General Fannie Masemola, and Lesotho police chief advocate Borotho Matsoso have confirmed a collaborative investigation into allegations of military-style training camps for Basotho on some South African farms. National police commissioner Fannie Masemola. Picture: Gallo Images Matsoso this week warned of such camps that could destabilise both countries. 'It is not necessarily young Basotho, but Basotho nationals of different ages, especially males. We have discovered that they have been recruited to join this military training in some of the farms in South Africa. This is what we have come across,' Matsoso told Newzroom Afrika. CONTINUE READING: Police investigate allegations of Basotho military-style training camps in South Africa Leaked Bushiri case affidavit puts witness at risk, warns NPA The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has expressed serious concern over the leak of a confidential affidavit belonging to a key state witness in the fraud and money laundering case involving self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his co-accused. Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court during their bail application on 4 November 2020. Picture: Jacques Nelles The NPA said the affidavit forms part of the documents in the case docket that was disclosed to the defence for the accused to prepare for their trial. CONTINUE READING: Leaked Bushiri case affidavit puts witness at risk, warns NPA The Constitutional Court has set down a date to hear the MK party's urgent application against President Cyril Ramaphosa to place police minister Senzo Mchunu on leave. President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president Jacob Zuma. Pictures: Nigel Sibanda, Gallo Images Former president Jacob Zuma and the MK party are seeking to invalidate Ramaphosa's decision to place Mchunu on a leave of absence and appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister. CONTINUE READING: ConCourt sets date for MK party's case against Ramaphosa over Mchunu Police arrest 183 rape suspects in one week The South African Police Service (Saps) has arrested 183 suspects for rape in one week across the country, while a serial rapist in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was sentenced to 10 life terms and 70 years in prison. Picture: South African Police Service Police spokesperson, Amanda van Wyk, said this is one of the operations that are aimed at intensifying the police's efforts in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). CONTINUE READING: Police arrest 183 rape suspects in one week Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa: Police probe within year | Politics weakened Saps, NPA | Bad news for meat lovers
