Man rapes niece ‘for luck’

Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent

A 20-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man raped his Grade 4 cousin sister who has Downs Syndrome and then told cops that sleeping with a virgin would bring him luck so that he could get employment in Botswana, a court heard.

Siphetho Ndlovu, of Bhagani, locked the child up in his bedroom for about 10 hours in a bid to conceal the crime.

He said he had travelled to Botswana several times without getting a job and was later advised by his peers that sleeping with a virgin would make him successful.

Ndlovu was assigned by his aunt to take the 10-year-old juvenile to Ngwana Primary School. Instead, he proceeded with her to his homestead and led her to his bedroom hut where he raped her once at around 7AM on September 28 this year. He went on to lock her inside up until 5PM.

He later released her and ordered her to keep the sex attack a secret. He proceeded with the juvenile to her homestead and told her mother that he had gone to collect her from school. Ndlovu appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, facing rape charges on Wednesday.
The trial continues.