Rapist loses life-x-18 appeal
2008-06-25 21:29
Pietermaritzburg - A man jailed for life for each of 18 rapes of a young woman perpetrated by him and his gang over a period of 12 hours was refused leave to appeal by Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.
The appellant, Sifiso Mkhize, tried to argue that he had been forced to rape the victim. He was 18 years old when the crimes were committed in 1999 at Newcastle.
Judge Jan Hugo said: "One does not act under duress if you are present while men rape a person on three separate occasions."
Mkhize had previously been convicted of the 18 rapes and jailed for 30 years by Newcastle Regional Court.
He appealed to the High Court which set aside the regional court sentences and imposed life for each of the 18 rapes.
It was found that Mkhize raped the woman three times. The others raped her 15 times.
Newcastle regional magistrate J M Mtsweni, who convicted Mkhize, said that not only did six men take turns in raping her at three different places, but they also threatened to stab her.
She was so distressed that she ran in front of a moving car rather than have them stab her.
She was finally rescued by men in a car.
- SAPA