THE High Court of South Africa, Eastern Division, Mthatha, sentenced Xolani Gcelu (34) to eight years’ imprisonment and an additional 158 years for his four-year reign of rape, kidnapping, robbery, and attempted murder of young women between the ages of 17 and 26 at the neighbouring villages of Sidwadweni and Zandukwana, near the district of Tsolo.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Luxolo Tyali, said that the court had sentenced Gcelu for life for each of the nine counts of rape, and sentences ranging between two and 15 years for multiple charges of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, kidnapping, common robbery, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, as well as compelled sexual assault.
“The court ordered the cumulative 158 years to run concurrently with the nine life terms. Between March 2016 and June 2019. Gcelu targeted the young women who were either walking on their own at night, or sleeping on their own, and raped them, while fully aware that he had contracted HIV. His modus operandi was to threaten the women with a knife, and take them to secluded areas or unfinished building structures, where he would rape and rob them of their belongings, including cell phones and cash,” said Tyali.
He added that Gcelu was linked to all the rape charges through DNA, as all the victims immediately reported their attacks and were thus timeously referred for medical attention.
According to Tyali, Gcelu was arrested after he attacked two women, threatened them with a knife, raped them, and forced them to perform sexual acts on one another.
“Even though they did not know him, they managed to describe him to their older brothers who traced and handed him to the police.
“During the trial he challenged the procedure followed when buccal samples were collected from his DNA comparison. He further claimed that he was in romantic relationships with five of the victims, and had bought liquor for others in exchange for sex,” said Tyali.
He said that under cross-examination by State Advocate Loyiso Methuso, Gcelu contradicted himself.
Methuso had earlier led the evidence of the victims, some of whom were assisted by the Court Preparation Officer (CPO), Nonkululeko Mcimbi.
According to Tyali, Judge Buyiswa Majiki found him to be an untruthful witness, and agreed that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances for deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment terms for rapes.
The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the Investigating Officer, CPO, and the prosecutor for the meticulous collection and presentation of evidence, noting that the sentence reaffirms the NPA’s commitment to the protection of women.
-ISSUED BY NPA
