The Lusikisiki Regional Court has sentenced Mzonjani Nodantile (25) to life imprisonment for raping a four-year-old girl.
The victim was known to him, as they stayed in the same neighbourhood in Mthambalala Area.
On April 14, 2016, the victim was playing outside with her peers, when Nodantile called her to his room. He locked the door and raped the preschool child. When the victim arrived home, her grandmother noticed she was struggling to walk and could not go to the toilet.
The granny inspected the child and discovered that she was seriously injured on her private parts. She took the victim to the St Elizabeth Hospital Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) and a case was opened, resulting in the arrest of Nodantile.
“During the trial, Nodantile pleaded not guilty, but when confronted with forensic evidence and under cross-examination by prosecutor Pearl Ledwaba, he contradicted himself and could not explain why the child, who is now 10 years old, would implicate him.”
“Arguing for the imposition of the life sentence, the prosecutor told the court that rape is very prevalent in the country, more especially in Lusikisiki, which was recently named as one of the rape capitals of the country by the Police Minister when he recently released crime statistics. The court found no compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences of life imprisonment for raping a minor.” said National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the TCC team, including the investigating officer for their meticulous collection and presentation of evidence.
