The Lusikisiki Regional Court sentenced two men who gang raped a 17-year-old girl in September 2020 to life imprisonment. In a press statement on Wednesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) acknowledged that Patrick Mapholoba Maxhakana, 23, and Sandile Nyenyiso, 29, took turns when raping the 17-year-old victim on 4 September 2020.
“The victim was with her friends and her boyfriend, consuming liquor at a local tavern in Nkunzimbini village in the district of Lusikisiki. She received a call from Nyenyiso, to whom she had given her cellphone number earlier on the day,” said Luxolo Tyali, the NPA regional spokesperson.
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Nyenyiso asked the victim to accompany him to his house to fetch a jersey, but she refused. Later, she met with Maxhakana whom she rejected when he sent her a love proposal on Facebook. According to the NPA, Maxhakana and the victim kissed and hugged and Maxhakana asked the young girl to spend the night with him, but she refused and went back to her friends and boyfriend whom she was having a great time with.
“The victim later left the tavern to the boyfriend’s place. While sleeping, they were interrupted by Maxhakana and Nyenyiso who demanded that she come out,” Tyali added. The young girl asked her boyfriend not to open the door as she feared they would harm her, but the boyfriend decided to open the door.
The attackers dragged the victim to the nearest river and forced her to wash in chilly water. The pair then took turns in raping the victim and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. The pair pled not guilty in court, but prosecutor Siyabonga Macebo led evidence which resulted in them being found guilty of rape. The pair was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Source: News24, The Wall, image from The Wall
