DURBAN – On 26 July 2021, the Umzimkhulu Regional Court sentenced Mondli Kheswa (34) to life imprisonment for rape, five years imprisonment for kidnapping, five years imprisonment for sexual assault and three years imprisonment for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

His sentence follows after the court heard how the accused kidnapped and brutally raped a teenager. On 25 January 2016 at 23:00, the 16-year-old girl was asleep at a house in the Ngwagwane area in Intsikeni when she was kidnapped by the accused. The victim was forcefully taken to the accused’s house where she was assaulted and repeatedly raped. On 27 January 2016, she managed to escape and reported the matter to the elders who immediately took her to hospital.

Intsikeni police were alerted and a case was opened. The docket was transferred to the Kokstad Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit who took over the investigation.

It was established that the victim was two months pregnant at the time and she lost her baby due to the injuries that she had sustained. The accused was placed under arrest and tried in court. He was granted bail in court and when the matter was finalised at court in 2019, he vanished. He has been the run since then and was arrested again this year. He was held behind the bars and until he was sentenced. The sentences will run concurrently.

Source: South African Police Service