The Centane Regional Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Khanyile Thubeni (38) to undergo 25 years imprisonment for the
rape of a 10-year-old girl.
The sentenced was handed down on August 30,
2022.
Allegations were that the victim was coming from the
playground with her siblings during April 2021 at Qolora Village, Centane when
they were called by the accused.
The accused told them to wait for their father who had
gone to fetch livestock from the grazing field. They stayed with the accused
till late and fell asleep and the accused raped the victim.
“A case of rape was opened at Centane police station
and later transferred to Butterworth Family Violence, Child Protection and
Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for investigation. The accused was subsequently found
guilty of rape and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment,” said police
spokesperson Captain Siphiokazi Mawisa
Amathole District acting police head Brigadier
Ngangema Xakavu welcomed the sentence handed to the 38-year-old man.
“I hope the sentencing will send a strong message to
all those who abuse vulnerable women and children that they will be dealt with
by the law,” said Xakavu.
In an unrelated case, the Centane Regional
Magistrate’s Court has, on August 30, also sentenced Khayalethu Nikisi (47) to
15 years behind bars following his conviction for rape of a 10-year-old girl.
The incident took place on April 24, 2016, when the
victim was at her home during the night when she was taken outside by her
mother’s boyfriend and raped her at nearby bushes.
The Butterworth FCS unit investigated the case and
secured successful conviction of Nikisi.
