DURBAN – A 40-year-old woman was sleeping at her place of residence at Mabhalonini in Estcourt on 2 February 2020 at 01:30, when she was woken up by an unknown armed man who gained entrance through the window.

Traumatised and fearing for her life the victim attempted to fight the man but he overpowered her, pressed her down and threatened to kill her if she makes any noise. The man raped the victim several times before instructing her to fetch him juice. The victim switched on the light and noticed the man as the same man who had approached and proposed love to her earlier that day, but she declined his proposal.

She got the opportunity to escape while the man was relaxed and drinking the juice. She went to a nearby house where she screamed for her neighbour. She provided a description of the man and the community identified the suspect as MuziwenkosI Mzunkunzi Nkala (44). Estcourt police were informed and a case of rape was opened.

The docket was transferred to the Estcourt Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation and the suspect was arrested and charged for rape. The investigation revealed that Nkala might also be linked to another rape case where a 58-year-old woman was allegedly raped at her home in Bhalonini area on April 2020.

The accused made several court appearances and on 11 November 2021 he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Estcourt Regional Court. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Last month the Estcourt FCS Unit secured a sentence of 80 years imprisonment for an 18-year-old man who allegedly raped his three nephews and niece aged between seven and nine years old. The Estcourt Regional Court sentenced the accused to 20 years imprisonment for each count, however the sentences will run concurrently.

It is alleged that accused would call the victims to his room one by one and rape them. The mother of one of the victims overheard her son narrating his ordeal to his older brother and intervened. The victims were questioned and they all confirmed being raped by their uncle. Four counts of rape were opened for investigation and the uncle was arrested. He was remanded in custody until he was sentence.

The Estcourt FCS Unit detectives did an exceptional job and treated every little piece of evidence with caution which led to the successful conviction and sentencing of the accused.

Source: South African Police Service