A Knife, Three Nights, and a Lifetime of Trauma: Relative Gets Life for Raping KZN Man

A 48-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal, repeated rape of a 22-year-old male relative in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The Ingwavuma Regional Court on Wednesday sentenced the accusedwho cannot be named to protect the victim’s identityto life imprisonment plus an additional 15 years for a series of attacks that weaponised familial trust and inflicted lasting psychological terror.

The crimes occurred in the Mbazwana area between November 2019 and January 2020. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the armed assailant entered the young man’s home on three separate nights while he slept. Each time, he threatened the victim with a knife, carried out the rape, and then issued a chilling warning: if the attacks were reported, he would kill the victim and rape his family members.

A Delayed Report and a Long Wait for Justice

It was only after the third assault in January 2020 that the traumatised victim found the courage to tell his mother, who contacted the police. A medical examination corroborated his account, but the accused vanished, remaining at large for four years until his arrest in 2024.

During the trial, Prosecutor Lungisile Bhengu presented compelling evidence, including testimony from the victim, his mother, and the examining doctor. A pivotal Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Mandisa Sikakane, laid bare the enduring damage. The victim described living in constant fear, suffering ongoing psychological trauma, and enduring bullying and verbal abuse from his community following the attacks.

The Sentence: A Message Against Betrayal and Brutality

The state argued for the maximum penalty, citing the breach of trust inherent in the familial relationship and the calculated cruelty of the crimes. The court agreed, imposing a life sentence for the rapes in November and December 2019 (classified as rape on diverse occasions) and an additional 15 years for the January 2020 rape. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara welcomed the sentence, stating, “The accused, being a family member of the complainant, was in a position of trust. The offences broke that trust and caused immense pain and suffering.” She emphasised that the conviction reflects the NPA’s commitment to confronting the scourge of sexual violence in all its forms.

For the survivor, the sentence closes a legal chapter marked by fear and betrayal, but the journey toward healing from the profound violation of safety, home, and family continues.

{Source: Citizen}

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