| 2024/04/15 |
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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, is elated after Sibusiso Walter Mazibuko (37), a former security guard, was ordered by the court to spend the rest of his life behind bars. The sentencing of Mazibuko by the Volksrust Regional Court on Wednesday, 10 April 2024, came after the accused raped a young girl who was seven years old (during the time of the incident) on 18 March 2015 as she was returning from school. The court heard how the accused found the victim walking along with her friends on the day of the incident. Mazibuko then ordered the kids to take a route, leading them home though the route was unusual to them. It is said that the children complied with his instructions due to the respect and trust they had for him as a security guard. The accused then joined the kids as they travelled back home. It was also revealed that as they were walking next to Mahohwane stream, surprisingly, Mazibuko took the victim’s shoe and threw it into the stream. He then told the other kids to proceed with their journey whilst ordering the victim to fetch her shoe from the stream. As soon as the other kids left, Mazibuko is said to have raped the little girl. Thereafter, he left the helpless girl alone to fend for herself. The victim was then found by a passer-by who immediately called the Police. The victim was assisted and a case of rape was registered at Volksrust SAPS then allocated to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation. The members worked tirelessly in their probe and gathered crucial evidence, which led to the arrest of the accused on 25 May 2023. During the time of his arrest, Mazibuko was still working as a security guard. The accused was then taken to court and the Detectives successfully opposed his bail. As a result, Mazibuko was kept in custody until his sentencing to life imprisonment on the said day (10 April 2024). The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, further commended the Investigation team, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary for the job well done. “Perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence remains a challenge in our society and it becomes disturbing when people that are entrusted with the responsibility to protect, are found to be the ones perpetrating these crimes against the vulnerable. We hope this sentence will serve as a deterrence to others who might consider emulating the actions of the accused, “said the General. Ends
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