A 25-year-old man, Linda Nicholas Masango, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Carolina Regional Court in Mpumalanga for raping a woman.
The incident happened on August 28, 2022, after the woman met Masango at a tavern in Carolina. The two spent time together, drinking and talking. As the evening progressed, Masango offered to walk her home.
However, the walk took a dark turn. On the way, he forced her into a ditch, assaulted her, and fled the scene. The woman reported the attack to the police, and Masango was later tracked down and arrested.
In court, Masango claimed he had been drunk and denied the rape. But the prosecution presented strong evidence, including the survivor’s detailed account and a medical report confirming injuries consistent with her version of events.
The court found the survivor credible and dismissed Masango’s claims. The prosecutor emphasized that every woman deserves to feel safe in public and that this kind of violence cannot be tolerated.
In delivering the sentence, the court acknowledged the seriousness of the crime and its contribution to the broader issue of gender-based violence. The outcome was welcomed as a step toward justice and safer communities.