NELSPRUIT - Finally a serial rapist, Elvis Zulu (40) received a well-deserving hefty sentence yesterday, Wednesday 08 February 2023. The sentence which was handed down by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela has been immensely welcomed by the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.

The accused has been involved in victimization of about seven women, including a minor. Zulu was faced with multiple counts of rapes, kidnappings, and pointing with firearm. These crimes were committed by him between January 2011 and November 2014 in areas including Kanyamazane, Pienaar and Kabokweni outside Nelspruit.

It was heard in court on how Zulu raped a woman who was 25 year old at the time during the night on 30 January 2011 at Kanyamazane. During the night of 19 February 2011, he went and raped a little girl who was 15 at the time in the same area of Kanyamazane. During the night of 21 April 2011, the accused raped another young girl who was 18 year old at the time and the incident also occurred at Kanyamazane. Zulu never stopped terrorizing women with his evil actions and this was shown when he went to Pienaar on 10 September 2011 and raped a young woman who was 22-years-old at the time and he sadly raped her during the night. At the same area of Pienaar, Zulu raped another young woman who was 19-years-old then during the night of 02 November 2011. On 20 January 2012 the accused is said to have raped a young woman at the age of 19 in Pienaar during the night. His last victim was also raped in Pienaar when she was 18 years old and this happened on 15 November 2014.

All the cases were opened and the dockets assigned to Kanyamazane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for investigation. The FCS members are regarded as experts in the field of investigation of cases including rapes hence they used their resources and efforts to ensure that the one behind these crimes does not get away with murder. It was not long before they arrested Zulu in November 2018. The state successfully opposed his bail and during the trial, the state presented overwhelming evidence against him which resulted in the accused being convicted on 02 February 2023 hence his sentencing as follows:

Judge Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo sentenced the accused to one (01) life imprisonment for count 1 (rape) and count 2 (rape). On count 3 (kidnapping), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. For count 4 (pointing with firearm), the accused was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment. For count 5 (raping a 15-year-old minor) and count 6 (raping a 15-year-old minor) the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment. For count 7 (kidnapping) the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. For count 8 (rape), the accused was sentenced to life Imprisonment meanwhile on count 9 (kidnapping), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. On count 10 (pointing with firearm), the accused was sentenced to one (01) year imprisonment. On count 11 (rape), the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment. For count 12 (kidnapping), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and for count 13 (robbery), the accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. On count 14 (rape), the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and on count 15 (pointing with firearm), the accused was sentenced to one year imprisonment. Count 16 (rape), the accused was sentenced to life Imprisonment. On count 17 (robbery), the accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. On count 18 (kidnapping), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. On count 19 (rape), the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment. On count 20 (robbery), the accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. On count 21 (kidnapping), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. On count 22 (illegal possession of firearm), the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. The Court has further ordered that count 1 and 2 (life sentence) run concurrently with all other counts (from count 3 until count 22).

In terms of Section 103 of firearm act, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The Judge further ordered that his name be entered into the Sexual Offender's Register. He was also declared unsuitable to work with children.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has further shown much appreciation to the Investigation team, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary for their excellent work which saw the accused harshly sentenced. "We are really making a serious impact in addressing the scourge of Gender-Based-Violence. We also hope that the sentence will send a strong message to perpetrators thereof, that their time is up as the wheels of the country's Justice system is slowly but surely catching up with" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service