| 2024/07/25 |
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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the substantial sentence that the Boschfontein Regional Court handed down today, to a 21-year-old rapist, Siyabonga Lawrence Ngwenya, who targeted children in the Nkomazi area. On the first rape, the accused preyed on a seven-year-old girl at Kamhlushwa on 15 October 2019. Thereafter, a case was opened and investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit from Tonga, leading to the arrest of the accused on 22 October 2019. At the time, the accused was 16-years-old and he was released under the care of a guardian due to his underage status by then. The accused’s criminal conduct continued, and on 08 July 2021, he raped an 11-year-old girl at Mzinti Trust while she was visiting her grandmother. A rape case was opened and the FCS members conducted an investigation which led to his arrest. On the first count of rape, the accused was convicted then sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. For this second count of rape, the accused was also convicted and sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently, and the accused’s name will be entered into the Register of Sexual Offenders. He will no longer be allowed to work with children. “The SAPS is committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, especially children, from such heinous crimes. We commend the dedicated work of the investigating team, and we trust that this sentence will send a strong message that such criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. We hope the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who may consider emulating the actions of the accused, “said Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi. Ends
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