HIV-positive rapist gets life

2005-09-01 10:15

Sharkia Regchand

Pietermaritzburg - An HIV-positive man who could have "inflicted a possible death sentence" on the 12-year-old girl he raped last year, was on Wednesday sentenced at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to life imprisonment.

Thulani Hadebe (36) raped his girlfriend's daughter, whom he threatened with a knife after he called her to his home under the pretext of wanting to give her food to cook.

When she refused to have sex with him at about 20:00, he punched her in the back and then raped her until he fell asleep at 01:00.

The girl escaped as soon as he dozed off.

Hadebe on Wednesday for the first time revealed that he is HIV positive and knew this when he raped the child, but did not use any protection.

Judge Shyam Gyanda said this was the most aggravating feature of his crime.

"We do not know if she is HIV-positive or not. It appears from the record she wasn't considered important enough to be tested or medicated for this offence." <>In addition to the terrible trauma of the rape she has to now live with the trauma of fearing she might be HIV-positive and have her lifespan reduced as a result.

"I am of the view these circumstances can be described as one of the most serious manifestation of rape," he said.

The state intends to get in touch with the girl and have her tested for HIV.

- The Witness