Rapist foiled by brave gogo

2012-11-26 09:33

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Thobani Ngqulunga, The Witness

Pietermaritzburg - An Impendle grandmother who caught a man raping her 3-year-old granddaughter locked him up and then summoned help, ensuring that the man was speedily caught and convicted.

Thokozani Mbatha, 24, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court last week.

According to the branch commander of the Rape Unit in Howick, Lieutenant Selby Nxumalo, the case was finalised within 10 days of the incident and the accused has been sentenced to 18 years.

Nxumalo said police were informed of the incident by the child's grandmother.

Mbatha, who lived near the family, had visited and promised to give the child sweets. He then took her to the outside toilets where he raped her.

“The child was screaming during the incident and this alerted the grandmother, who caught the rapist on the spot,” he said.

Nxumalo said the grandmother locked the toilet door with the child and Mbatha inside and called on her neighbours to assist her in ensuring that the rapist was caught and arrested.

Mbatha was interrogated after his arrest and admitted to raping the child.

“I commend the bravery by the old woman who was fast in taking action to ensure that the culprit is behind bars,” he said.
 

- The Witness