A 26-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl in the Hlabisa area in November 2025.
A 26-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mtubatuba Regional Court after being convicted of raping a 17-year-old in the Hlabisa area in November 2025.
The Mtubatuba Regional Court handed down the sentence following the man's conviction for the rape, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcoming the outcome.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, KwaZulu-Natal NPA Regional spokesperson, said the court heard that the teenager was walking with her cousin to a nearby shop when they were approached by the accused, who made romantic advances towards her.
“Despite her refusal, he followed her and her cousin back to their homestead. The accused subsequently demanded to speak to the complainant and slapped her,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
She said that when the girl's cousin went to alert her father about what was happening, the accused grabbed the teenager and took her to a nearby area, where he raped her.
“The complainant’s cousin and uncle heard her cries for help and rushed to the scene, where they found her in a state of undress while the accused was putting his clothes back on,” she said.
The accused fled the scene, and the teenager informed her relatives that she had been raped. Her uncle subsequently reported the incident to the accused's family and the police.
The man was later arrested at his homestead, while the teenager was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
During the trial, prosecutor Phumlani Thembalethu Khoza led the evidence of the complainant and her cousin.
The State also presented a medical report and a Victim Impact Statement (VIS), compiled by the teenager with the assistance of court preparation officer Sithembile Cebekhulu.
In her statement, the complainant detailed the emotional and psychological trauma she experienced as a result of the rape.
In addition to the life sentence, the court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that his name be entered into both the National Register for Sex Offenders and the Child Protection Register.
“The NPA welcomes the sentence and hopes that sentences of this nature will serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
“The prosecution of sexual offences and gender-based violence remains an organisational priority for the NPA. The NPA will continue to vigorously prosecute perpetrators of these crimes and seek sentences that reflect their seriousness and the devastating impact they have on victims and communities,” she said.