Rapist kills man who helped victim
2011-11-29 11:01
Chris Ndaliso, The Witness
Pietermaritzburg - A young man who was brave enough to help a 15-year-old girl who was being raped by two men has paid with his life.
As Sanele Dladla, 23, was walking with the victim to the police station the morning after rescuing her, one of the rapists confronted them in the street and stabbed Dladla to death.
The rape took place in a dilapidated back room at Dladla’s home in Mbali Unit 1.
Dladla was returning home with a friend at about 03:00 on Saturday when he heard screams.
His eldest sister, Zamampendle, said the two friends went to investigate and found two men they knew raping the girl.
Commotion
“I heard some commotion and on investigating I discovered that the two were confronting the suspects for raping the girl and Sanele said he would report the matter.
“I went back into the house and I heard the woman who stays in the main house scolding the suspects for committing the crime in her yard,” said Zamampendle.
She said they kept the teenage victim in their home until sunrise, with Sanele saying he would accompany her to the police.
The girl said she was grabbed by the suspects on her way to buy pre-paid electricity from a local shop.
“When we questioned the girl she said the two started raping her on Friday afternoon in a nearby bush after taking the cash she had and the electricity pre-paid card. She said that in the late afternoon they dragged her into that back room at the neighbours.
“When we questioned the neighbour it appeared that the screams of the girl could not have been heard as there was a party in the neighbourhood,” she said.
Stabbed
At about 06:00 Sanele accompanied the girl to the police. On their way they were intercepted by the suspects and one of them stabbed him in the chest. He was taken to Mbali Clinic where he died.
“I was cleaning the house when Sanele’s friend came and told me that he was stabbed,” said Zamampendle.
“The girl escaped and went to the police station while this was happening. It is sad that my brother could die this way. He was no trouble maker and even now he died trying to help the poor girl.”
On Saturday afternoon local people went looking for the suspects. They found one and beat him up before calling the ward councillor and the police.
The one who allegedly stabbed Sanele was still at large until his parents tracked him down and handed him to the police.
The Witness could not find the rape victim or her family.
Ward councillor Siphiwo Ndawonde said, “Rape is not common in this community.
“It is so sad for a young life to be lost while trying to do the right thing, to rescue a vulnerable young girl.”
He said he will call a meeting to discuss the events.
16 Days of Activism campaign
The young girl was raped the day after the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.
Last Friday the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, said that there has been an increase in all sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, since last year.
She said she believes people who rape and murder women and children should not be have option of bail, but should be given tougher sentences to deter others.
Police said the two suspects, who are in their 20s, will appear in court soon.
One is charged with rape and the other with rape and murder