By Mashamba Media
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Temba Regional Court sentenced Lewis Khumalo (34) to life imprisonment, for one charge of rape and a further 10 years on a separate count of rape. The court ordered the sentence to run concurrently.
His conviction emanates from an incident that took place on the evening of 03 August 2017, at Suurman, near Temba, wherein he accosted an unsuspecting 36-year-old woman, who was walking home from work He subsequently dragged her to a nearby bush and raped her before fleeing the scene.
NPA spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said in another incident that occurred at Hans Kekana Village on 02 April 2018, near Temba, wherein he and an unknown accomplice met a 21-year-old female walking with her boyfriend.
“They then threatened him, resulting in him fleeing the scene. They dragged the complaint to the nearby bushes and took turns to rape her.
“Both incidents were reported to the police, and the accused was arrested in September 2018, and the court denied him bail. He was identified by the complainants in an identity parade, and he pleaded guilty to both offenses,” said Mamothame.
Mamothame said in aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Samuel Makwela, urged the court to consider the physical and psychological harm that Khumalo’s actions has done to the victims, as it reflected in the victim impact statement.
He said Magistrate Dorothy Lekwakwe agreed with the state and remarked on the severity of the crime that the accused committed, as she imposed a befitting sentence,
“The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the collaboration between the prosecutor, investigating officer, and other role players in bringing the perpetrator to book. She called for a united front against offences of such nature in communities,” said Mamothame.