PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES THE SENTENCING OF 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED UPON A SERIAL RAPIST
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the 25 years imprisonment imposed on Monday, 20 May 2024 by the Boschfontein Regional Court upon a serial rapist by the name of John Innocent Ndlala (40).
The court heard how the accused somehow entered inside the victim’s house at Mbangwane Trust, in the early hours of 02 June 2012 around 01h30 am then raped the victim, who was aged 59 at the time. At the time of the accident, the perpetrator’s identity was unknown.
A rape case was eventually opened and the docket was assigned to the Family Violence, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
As if that was not enough, on 22 July 2012, the accused raped another woman who was aged 25 at the time. This incident also occurred at Mbangwane Trust.
On that fateful day, at around 18h00, the victim was on her way home, returning from her friends and along the way, she met the accused whom she knew.
Out of the blue, the accused grabbed the victim, took her to a secluded place, an abandoned shop, where he raped her.
Fortunately, at the time of the incident, a good Samaritan was passing by and he then proceeded to inform the victim’s family about what had occurred. The victim was rescued when her family members swiftly responded. The accused was cornered and pelted with stones. It was during this time that he fled the scene.
This incident was also reported to the Police and the docket was assigned to the FCS Unit to investigate.
An investigation was conducted by a team of dedicated members from the FCS Unit.
The following day (23 July 2012), the accused was arrested.
During the investigation, the team worked tirelessly and later discovered that the accused was the one responsible for the rape of a female victim on 02 June 2012. He was then charged for this rape case.
Thereafter, a trial commenced and the state presented a watertight case against the accused hence he was convicted as follows:
On one count of rape, the accused was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after raping a woman who was aged 59.
The accused was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the rape of a woman who was 25 years old at the time of the incident.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
The name of the accused will also be entered into the Register of Sexual Offenders.
In delivering the sentence, the court emphasized the severity of the crimes and the need to protect the community from such dangerous individuals like him. The 25 years imprisonment serves as a strong message that such disgusting acts will not be tolerated in society, and perpetrators thereof will be held accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela further commended everybody who contributed in whichever way, leading to the well-deserved punishment
“We commend the diligent work of the Investigation Team, Prosecutors, and the Judiciary in ensuring that justice was served in this case. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we hope that this sentence brings them some measure of closure and healing,” said the General, “We must continue to stand together against all forms of violence and support survivors of such traumatic experiences. Let this sentence serve as a reminder that perpetrators of sexual violence will face the full force of the law.”
