Africa-Press – South-Africa. When a 31-year-old mentally disabled woman was raped by a relative in a village in Mahlabathini, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2017, the police launched an investigation.
However, to her family’s disgust, the assailant’s family tried to buy their silence to make the case go away. The family rejected the financial enticement and waited for the case to be finalised.
It took almost five years, since the rape on 2 September 2017, but the Ulundi Regional Court finally brought justice to the woman.
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KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the 27-year-old relative was found guilty of rape and sentenced to life in prison. He cannot be named to protect the privacy of the woman.
“The court declared that he is a danger to the community and found this crime gruesome as the accused knew of the victim’s mental condition,” said Gwala.
“The detectives were pleased with how the family stood its ground when the accused’s relatives attempted to pay them off for his dirty deeds. The family was delighted with the court result,” said Gwala.
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