Lawyer: Give child rapist life

2010-01-25 21:04

Pietermaritzburg - A 49-year-old Pietermaritzburg man convicted of raping six youths should be jailed for life, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court heard on Monday.

State prosecutor Prettygirl Ngcobo was addressing the court on the sentencing of Michael Hlongwa, who pleaded guilty to raping the youths, aged between nine and 12.

Judge Leona Theron has indicated that she intends passing sentence on Monday.

Hlongwa told the court that he was asked to counsel church congregants by a pastor in Newcastle.
In return, he was given free accommodation near the church, while his wife and two daughters remained in Pietermaritzburg.

Admitting to having sex with youths, he told the court he gave some of them R5 or R10. He gave one of them R50 and warned him not to tell anyone.

He admitted that he had previously served two years in jail on an indecent assault conviction.
 

- SAPA