Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Writer
AN intoxicated 25-year-old man who sexually assaulted his 68-year-old grandmother in the presence of her grandson, smashed window panes and partially destroyed the wall of her bedroom hut, has been sentenced to 20 years and nine months in prison.
The man appeared for sentencing before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube, facing charges of rape and malicious damage to property.
At the conclusion of the trial, he was convicted and sentenced. Prosecutor Mr Sehliselo Khumalo, told the court that the grandmother — whose identity is withheld for ethical reasons — was subjected to an hour-long sexual assault in the presence of her grandson.
He said the incident had severely damaged her reputation and left both the victim and her grandson traumatised.
Mr Khumalo stated that the accused had threatened to kill both the grandmother and her grandson, and argued that he deserved a 20-year prison sentence to allow for rehabilitation.
The magistrate concurred with the prosecutor and handed down a 20-year sentence for rape. For malicious damage to property, the accused was sentenced to 12 months, with three months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.
The man will effectively serve 20 years and nine months in prison.
In sentencing Tshabalala, the magistrate described his actions as inhumane and shocking. He noted that the incident had left the grandmother and her grandson deeply traumatised, with emotional scars that would likely last a lifetime.
The prosecutor told the court that the man arrived at the grandmother’s homestead shortly after midnight on 20 July, while she was asleep in her bedroom hut with her grandson.
“Upon arrival, the accused smashed the window pane and shone his torch into the bedroom hut. The grandmother asked who it was, but he rushed to the door, forced it open and entered the room,” said Mr Khumalo.
He threatened to kill them with a hammer if they screamed, and ordered the complainant — who was sleeping on the bed — to move to the floor.
The accused then instructed the boy to sleep on the bed and proceeded to sexually assault the grandmother for an hour while the boy watched, Mr Khumalo said.
After the attack, the accused fell asleep, allowing the grandmother to escape and alert neighbours. The neighbours returned to the homestead and found the accused snoring. They woke him up.
“He became violent and chased after the villagers, threatening them with a hammer. He then returned to the grandmother’s home and destroyed part of the bedroom wall with the hammer and smashed windows. After that, he slept on the victim’s bed. Villagers rushed to the police station and reported the matter, leading to his arrest,” said Mr Khumalo.
