DURBAN – In 2018, two friends aged 10 and 12 from Ezikhaleni Reserve attended a virginity testing in the area and the lady who was conducting the test realised that the girls had been sexually assaulted. She informed their parents and the victims were questioned. They revealed to their parents that they were raped by Xolani Ntuli (24) who threatened to harm them should they tell anyone.

Both incidents happened on different occasions at Ezikhaleni Reserve in Empangeni. The first incident took place on 15 March 2018, when a ten-year-old victim was visiting her friend and was raped by the accused. The second incident took place on 11 September 2018 when a 12-year-old victim was asleep and was raped by the same accused. The matter was reported to the Empangeni police station and the docket of rape was transferred to Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.

The accused left the area when he heard that the victims decided to break their silence. An intensive investigation led to the arrest of Ntuli on 18 September 2019 at Inanda where he was hiding. Ntuli made his first court appearance at the Empangeni Magistrates’ Court on 20 September 2019. His bail was denied at court and was kept behind bars until the matter was finalised at Empangeni Regional Court. On 25 May 2021, the court found him guilty and was sentenced to two life imprisonment for two counts of rape.

Source: South African Police Service