Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A COUPLE from Esigodini has each been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison for ganging up and raping the woman’s 17-year-old daughter in a case in which the mother facilitated the sexual assault by her husband.
The pair, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, were convicted of rape by Gwanda regional magistrate Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele and sentenced to a combined 34 years’ imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba told the court that the complainant’s mother allowed her husband, who is the girl’s stepfather, to rape her in an attempt to appease him following a domestic dispute.
The court heard that on March 31 last year at about 7PM, the accused persons were at home with the complainant, who had been visiting them.
An argument broke out between the couple over allegations of infidelity. During the dispute, the woman suggested that her husband sleep with the complainant to placate him.
“The woman then dragged the complainant into the kitchen, locked her inside together with her husband, who told the victim that he was going to pay for her mother’s wrongdoing,” said Mr Shumba.
The court heard that the stepfather raped the complainant before his wife unlocked the door, allowing him to leave.
The offence came to light after the complainant’s grandmother became suspicious when the teenager missed her menstrual cycle and questioned her. The complainant then disclosed the abuse.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the couple’s arrest.
In a separate case, a 46-year-old Gwanda man has been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison for raping his 10-year-old daughter.
The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, was convicted of rape by Mrs Ndebele.
Mr Shumba told the court that the offences occurred after the child’s mother left her children in the accused’s care while she visited relatives.
On the night of July 11, the complainant slept in her father’s bedroom with her younger sibling.
The court heard that during the night the accused got into the complainant’s bedding and raped her.
“The accused continued raping the complainant for the next four days and threatened to assault her if she reported the matter to anyone,” said Mr Shumba.
The abuse came to light after the child’s mother returned home and the complainant disclosed what had happened.
The matter was reported to the police, resulting in the accused’s arrest.
