NELSPRUIT – On Wednesday, 28 September 2022, Nkateko Ndlovu aged 29 was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mhala Regional Court for raping a 17-year-old teenager on 02 February 2022.

According to the information at police disposal, on that fateful day both the victim and her mother went to Ndlovu’s homestead in Hluvukani near Bushbuckridge.  The purpose of their visit was for the teenage girl to get some kind of help in prayer concerning her personal life issues after they heard that Ndlovu who is regarded as a prophet, could help in this regard.

The accused convinced the mother to leave her daughter behind with him and only fetch her after a few days. It is said that the following morning, Ndlovu together with the young girl went to the river nearby to perform some rituals. It was during this time that Ndlovu raped the girl twice.

After that shameful act, the accused and the victim went back to Ndlovu’s residence. During the night the victim sent a text to her pastor and related her story to him. The next day, the girl somehow managed to escape from Ndlovu’s place and went straight to report the matter to the police. A rape case was opened and the docket was assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Acornhoek for investigation. The matter was investigated which led to the arrest of Ndlovu on 15  February 2022. He was then trialled and on 29 August 2022 the accused was convicted hence his sentence. The court also found the accused to be unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenders. The court also found the accused to be unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered into the national register of sexual offenders.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has taken this opportunity to alert parents. “We welcome the sentence and hope that it will send a strong message to perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence who prey on innocent and defenceless victims. This sentencing should also serve as a warning if not a lesson for parents to always be on guard when it comes to protection of their children from ruthless individuals” warned the General.

Source: South African Police Service