Africa-Press – South-Africa. A Durban woman who ran to a house and was turned away while fleeing a rapist in May last year, has said the incident left her with sleepless nights and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last week, her attacker, 38-year-old Bhekani Manqele, was sentenced in the Umlazi Regional Court to life imprisonment and an additional eight years for kidnapping, assault, and rape of the 29-year-old.
On the night of the incident, in May 2021, the woman was leaving a tavern in Umlazi when she was accosted by Manqele.
He pulled her into a nearby building and assaulted her before trying to rape her. He then tried to take her to his home, but on the way she managed to escape, running to a nearby house for help.
“However, the people chased her away and she was caught by Manqele and severely assaulted. He kept her at his house and raped her throughout the night. She managed to escape the following morning,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara.
The woman reported the matter to the police and Manqele was arrested a week later after she was able to point him out.
Regional Court prosecutor Pratisha Jugnundan had led the woman’s evidence, said Kara.
“Since she was traumatised, the State made an application for her to testify in a separate room away from Manqele.”
Jugnundan also handed in a victim impact statement compiled by the woman, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Thuli Sontsele, Kara added.
“In her statement, she detailed how the experience has traumatised her. She lives in fear and is scared of men. She has sleepless nights and suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome.”
In sentencing Manqele, the court deemed him unfit to possess a firearm.
“As the country is in the midst of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, we hope that sentences of this nature demonstrate the NPA’s efforts and that of the entire criminal justice system against this scourge. We commend the work done by the prosecution and police,” Kara added.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
