Mpuma rapist sentenced to life

Mbombela - An Mpumalanga man who raped a 73-year-old woman twice was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.

Zweli Glen Khoza, 25, from Tekatakho Trust outside White River, was sentenced in the Nelspruit Regional Court after being found guilty of rape and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Magistrate Willie Wilkins told the court that in his 50 years as a magistrate he had never presided over a rape case where such brutality was displayed.

"You launched a brutal attack on two old ladies, overturned their shack, hit them with stones and a hoe in a manner that one of them had a fractured leg. You raped the other one twice, showing no respect for her. After raping her the second time, you pushed your hand inside her private parts and pulled it out. I have never come across such a brutal act," said Wilkins.

Wilkins noted that Khoza said in his own testimony that his father had warned him about his criminal acts.

"You showed no remorse and stated no reason why you attacked the ladies. The court is mindful that after the other warned you to stop harassing people at her place, you knew you would return late at night to launch a brutal attack on her," he said.

The court heard the incident happened at the 73-year-old pensioner's home at Tekatakho Trust on 5 November last year.

The magistrate said Khoza had acted like a monster.

"You invaded the intimate zone of the old woman, damaging her reputation. You acted in a cruel manner and the anger and outrage you showed is shocking. The court wants to send a clear message that we will not tolerate such a brutal act. The court must give a sentence that will be a deterrent not only to you, but to others thinking of committing the same offence," he said.

Wilkins said there were no substantial and compelling circumstances for a lenient sentence.

"You are sentenced to life imprisonment for count one [rape] and 10 years for count two [assault GBH]. The 10 years will run concurrently with count one. You are welcome to appeal against this conviction," he said.

Khoza said he was not satisfied and asked the court for leave to appeal.