On Friday, 26 May, the Malamulele Regional Court sentenced a 38-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a 19-year-old mentally challenged woman. The name of the accused could not be divulged to protect the identity of the victim, who is regarded as vulnerable.
The ordeal occurred at Mudavula village, outside Malamulele, on the evening of 1 July 2017, while the man was at the victim's home, drinking beer with her uncle. The man followed the girl to an outside toilet, where he forcibly had sex with her. After satisfying himself, he left the girl at the toilet, went back inside and continued drinking as if nothing had happened. The girl went back inside crying and reported the matter to her aunt. The police were summoned, and the man was arrested that same day.
During the trial, he pleaded not guilty. The DNA evidence, however, which state advocate Norman Makhubele relied on, linked the accused to the crime and ensured the conviction.
Dr Bardwell Mufunwaini from Munna Ndi Nnyi Men's Forum, who champions the rights of women and children, hailed the sentence as a warning to other rapists. "As an organisation, we are highly elated and impressed by this sentence. When magistrates and judges pass sentences that are equal to the crime, we become happy. This will definitely serve as a deterrent and send a message out there that crime does not pay," he said.
The National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo's spokesperson, Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, also hailed the sentence and praised everyone who had worked on the case. "We welcome the sentence and applaud the good work done by Adv Makhubele and investigating officer Sergeant Kenny Makhubele from the Giyani Family Violence and Child Protection Unit,"she said.