News / National
Church rapist jailed for 24 years
13 Sep 2014 at 13:32hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO rapist, who was arrested after turning up at a church where his victim worships, was yesterday sentenced to an effective 21 and half years in jail.
Bulawayo regional magistrate, Sikhumbuzo Nyathi was told how Mduduzi Ndlovu, 30, of Nkulumane connived with an accomplice still at large and robbed two vendors of their wares and cellphones before force-marching them to a maize field where they raped the women at knife point.
Ndlovu had pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by Nyathi due to overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to 24 years in jail of which two years where suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime. Six months were further suspended on condition that Ndlovu restitutes $18 to the victim.
In passing the sentence, Nyathi noted that there was an increase in cases of sexual abuse.
He said a long prison term would deter like-minded people from committing the crime.
"Cases of sexual abuse are on the rise and in some instances the victims are raped and infected with HIV. The accused therefore deserves a long prison term that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded people," ruled Nyathi.
Prosecuting, Masimba Saruwaka narrated how on April 10 shortly after 6.30PM at a maize field near Sedgemore Butchery, the victim was walking to Nkulumane from Pumula South with her neighbour.
Three men emerged from a maize field, among them Ndlovu, who was holding a screw driver.
Ndlovu ordered the two women to stop and searched them, grabbing their two mobile phones, $1 and 6kgs of chicken cuts which were in a bucket.
Ndlovu, the court heard, then dragged the victim into a maize field for about 600 metres and ordered her to undress. He raped the woman once and fled.
The victim informed her neighbour who advised her to make a police report leading to Ndlovu's arrest.
In his defence, Ndlovu told the court that he had never seen the victim.
"I was arrested the day I went to church and it was because of a woman I don't know.
Actually, I only know that the woman is friends with my ex-wife.
"I was called by some ushers who indicated to me that there was a meeting inside the church where I found the pastor and the woman kneeling. They asked me if I knew the lady and I said 'no'. Afterwards I was interrogated and taken to the police station," he argued.
Bulawayo regional magistrate, Sikhumbuzo Nyathi was told how Mduduzi Ndlovu, 30, of Nkulumane connived with an accomplice still at large and robbed two vendors of their wares and cellphones before force-marching them to a maize field where they raped the women at knife point.
Ndlovu had pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by Nyathi due to overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to 24 years in jail of which two years where suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime. Six months were further suspended on condition that Ndlovu restitutes $18 to the victim.
In passing the sentence, Nyathi noted that there was an increase in cases of sexual abuse.
He said a long prison term would deter like-minded people from committing the crime.
"Cases of sexual abuse are on the rise and in some instances the victims are raped and infected with HIV. The accused therefore deserves a long prison term that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded people," ruled Nyathi.
Prosecuting, Masimba Saruwaka narrated how on April 10 shortly after 6.30PM at a maize field near Sedgemore Butchery, the victim was walking to Nkulumane from Pumula South with her neighbour.
Ndlovu ordered the two women to stop and searched them, grabbing their two mobile phones, $1 and 6kgs of chicken cuts which were in a bucket.
Ndlovu, the court heard, then dragged the victim into a maize field for about 600 metres and ordered her to undress. He raped the woman once and fled.
The victim informed her neighbour who advised her to make a police report leading to Ndlovu's arrest.
In his defence, Ndlovu told the court that he had never seen the victim.
"I was arrested the day I went to church and it was because of a woman I don't know.
Actually, I only know that the woman is friends with my ex-wife.
"I was called by some ushers who indicated to me that there was a meeting inside the church where I found the pastor and the woman kneeling. They asked me if I knew the lady and I said 'no'. Afterwards I was interrogated and taken to the police station," he argued.
Source - chronicle
