DURBAN – The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in KwaZulu-Natal continues to rid the society of sexual predators and murderers who prey on vulnerable women and children. This was evident when the Durban High Court sentenced a 38-year-old man to serve five terms of life imprisonment plus an additional six years in jail. The sentence was handed down on Monday, 13 May 2024 after the accused was found guilty on four counts of rape, one count of murder, a count of attempted murder and another charge of assault.
The sentence emanated from despicable events which unfolded at KwaNyuswa in the early hours of Wednesday, 11 May 2022 where the convict killed his wife and moments later raped his biological daughter who was 15-years-old at the time. As if that was not criminal enough, the man continued to rape his 18-year-old stepdaughter.
On that fateful day, the now convicted rapist and murderer had a verbal altercation with his fiancé which resulted in him stabbing her to death and covered her body with leaves in the yard. Soon afterwards he woke up his biological daughter, telling her that her mother had fallen ill and that he rushed her to a hospital. He convinced the young one to take her to the imaginary hospital to check on her mother and the unsuspecting child complied.
Few metres away from the house, the father turned on his daughter and raped her twice whilst assaulting her. After he had finished his heinous act, he led her back to the house where he woke up his step-daughter and sexually violated her, with the 15-year-old watching. The highly traumatised 15-year-old was able to solicit help from family members via WhatsApp. Upon the arrival of the family members the suspect fled the scene. The concealed boy of his fiancé was soon recovered and murder charge was subsequently opened.
Pinetown FCS detectives thoroughly investigated the matter, hunting down the suspect who had disappeared without a trace. With the assistance of Crime Intelligence, the suspect was arrested at Illovu Township where he had disguised himself as a woman. He made several court appearances at the Pinetown Magistrates Court before the matter was transferred to the Durban Regional Court for trial.
The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has applauded the investigating team which proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and ensured that the rapist and murderer was removed from society for good. “Cases of violence perpetrated against women and children are a priority and our FCS detectives have been attaining encouraging hefty sentences. As difficult as it is to police crimes that happen behind closed doors, police in KwaZulu-Natal will continue to encourage women, children and the vulnerable groups to speak out against any form of violence. Men who are victims of gender-based violence must also debunk the myth that purports the reporting of GBV cases against women as a sign of weakness. We encourage our investigators to continue with the excellent work of ensuring that all sexual predators get the highest possible jail sentence”, said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.
