Danisa Masuku
A Tsholotsho man who subjected a 39-year-old woman to a night of terror, raping her five times at a bus terminus and a nearby flea market, will spend the next 20 years behind bars after being convicted of rape.
Thulani Tshuma (26), of Tsholotsho Council Quarters, was convicted of rape after the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Tshuma appeared before Regional Magistrate Aelene Munamati on Thursday, where he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In her ruling, Munamati said the State witnesses gave corroborated and credible evidence.
“Tshuma is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years effective in jail. He deserves to reform in jail so that he will become a better member of the society,” she said.
The magistrate said the bus terminus was a public place meant for travellers, not a hunting ground for sexual predators.
She said the fact that Tshuma attacked a vulnerable woman who was sleeping at the terminus and subjected her to repeated rape throughout the night aggravated the offence.
Prosecuting, Owen Mugari told the court that rape was a serious crime that left victims traumatised.
“Rape is prevalent in such areas. The accused person used violence. The offence occurred at a public place, a bus terminus where members of the public should feel safe,” he submitted.
Mugari said a deterrent sentence was necessary to send a strong message to would-be rapists.
Tshuma had pleaded for leniency in mitigation, but the court found no special circumstances to warrant it.
The court heard that on 1 September 2026, at around 3am, the 39-year-old complainant from Sipongweni Line was sleeping under a shelter at Tsholotsho bus terminus when Tshuma allegedly pounced on her.
He began molesting her, but when she woke up and tried to stop him, he allegedly pinned her to the ground, pulled down her clothes and raped her.
The court heard that Tshuma then dragged the woman to a nearby flea market, forced her to lie on the cold ground and raped her four more times without her consent.
The ordeal continued until daylight, when he allegedly ordered her to leave.
The traumatised woman fled to well-wishers, who took her to the police before she was referred to
Tsholotsho District Hospital.
A medical report was produced as an exhibit in court.
