| 2024/05/15 |
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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has hailed the four life sentences imposed upon a serial rapist by the name of Given Mnisi (42). He was sentenced by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela on Monday, 13 May 2024 The court heard how the accused preyed on defenceless young women, mostly in the area of Nkomazi Nkomazi between the year 2010 and the year 2015. It is said that on 01 November 2010 around 18h45, the accused raped a girl who was 15-years-old at the time. The victim, who was returning from church was raped twice by the accused at an unfinished house in Mangweni near Tonga. On 30 March 2011 around 20h00, another female victim who was 20-year-old at the time, was returning from buying bread at a Spaza Shop nearby. It is said that the accused suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed her by the neck, pulled out a firearm and threatened to kill her, claiming that he already killed other females who did not cooperate with him. He then stabbed her with a knife on the elbows then dragged her to a nearby bushes. She was then raped upon arrival. As if that was not enough, the accused raped another female who was 13-years-old at the time. This particular incident occurred at Block B near Tonga on 24 August 2012 around 20h00. It is said that the victim was playing outside the gate of her residential place when the accused suddenly emerged from nowhere and grabbed her with the hand whilst she was screaming, then threatened to kill her. He then took her to a certain house and raped her upon arrival. The accused continued and raped another girl who was 16-years-old at the time. This incident occurred at Boschfontein on 08 December 2012 around 01h00 am. It is said that the victim was asleep inside the house with her younger brother, who was aged four (04) at the time and though her mother was at home but she was not in good health. It was during this period when the accused somehow got inside the house then unshamefully raped her before he fled the scene. The accused also raped another female who was 15-years-old at the time of this incident which occurred at Naas near Tonga on 02 November 2013. It is said that the victim was sleeping at home when she was attacked by the accused and his accomplice. The two then broke into the house and forcefully dragged her outside into an unfinished house. The accomplice is said to have left before the accused raped her. The accused further raped another woman who was aged 19 at the time and the incident occurred at Block C near Tonga on 08 September 2015 around 22h00. The incident took place during the time when the victim was returning from evening classes at a school where she was learning. She was unfortunately attacked by the accused who was in possession of a knife. During the process, the accused robbed her of a cell phone as well as undisclosed amount of cash then dragged her into a nearby bushes and sadly raped her. The end of the road for the accused came when he raped a girl who was 15-years-old girl at a time and the incident happened in Germiston (Gauteng Province) on 29 June 2022. The female victim apparently went to iSangoma and asked for assistance in getting a job. Upon arrival, the accused known in the area as Given Mnisi, ordered the victim to remove her clothes and to wear traditional blankets which were offered by the accused. After changing the clothes, Mnisi offered her some liquid substance to drink before he could take her documents. It was at this moment when the victim passed out while drinking the said liquid Surprisingly, the victim woke up and found the accused raping her. After the incident, she went to Primrose SAPS and reported the matter. Mnisi was then arrested on 02 July 2022 but was granted R1000 bail. The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Mpumalanga Province continued to work around the clock in their investigation and gathered enough information which pointed out to the investigators that Mnisi was the one behind the series of rapes that were reported in the Nkomazi area. When the accused appeared at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court in January 2023, the FCS Unit from Mpumalanga nabbed him then charged him for the said rape cases committed in various Policing Precincts in the Nkomazi area. The accused was brought before Court and the state presented a water tight case against him.
On 07 May 2024, the accused pleaded guilty to all charges leveled against him though his Defence Attorneys successfully negotiated for the withdrawal of other charges that were reported, except for the rape charges. This resulted in him being convicted. Be as it may, the accused was sentenced as follows: The court ordered that the sentences on Count 06, 08, 12 and 15 to run concurrently with the sentence on Count 02.
It is against this backdrop that the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela appreciated that the exceptional work done by the Investigation team, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary which culminated into this enormous sentence against Gender-Based-Violence. “We are hopeful that the sentence will serve as a deterrence to perpetrators of heinous crimes against vulnerable groups. This is a typical example that there is punishment for perpetrators in this country, ” said the General.
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