Andries Nthambeleni Mulaudzi (43) was sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional five years by the Sibasa Regional Court on Tuesday after being found guilty of kidnapping and raping a 19-year-old woman. The court ordered that the rape victim's name be withheld to avoid secondary victimisation.
During the trial, the court heard that on 18 March 2016 the victim was at a local tavern, drinking with her friends. Mulaudzi approached and grabbed her by force, beating and threatening her.
"The two witnesses tried to intervene, however, the accused overpowered them. He carried her [the victim] to an unused house where he forcefully undressed and raped her. The two witnesses called the police and the complainant was taken to hospital," said Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, regional spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecution in Limpopo.
Mulaudzi maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty.
"In mitigation, the defence sought a lenient sentence and focused on the fact that Mulaudzi had been under the influence of alcohol during the commission of the crimes. In aggravation of sentence, advocate Rabelani Mutsinda Makhera told the court that there were no compelling and substantial reasons for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. He further argued that the accused is likely to commit another serious crime as he has a previous conviction of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm," said Malabi-Dzhangi.
The court agreed with the State and sentenced Mulaudzi to life imprisonment and five years. The sentences will run concurrently.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and commended the work of the SAPS and the prosecutor.