Man sneaks on neighbour, rapes her at knifepoint, jailed 15 years

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

A 36-year-old man from the Musane area under Chief Tshitaudze in Beitbridge has been jailed for an effective 15 years for sneaking into a neighbour’s homestead and raping her at knife point.

The man pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape when he appeared before regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa, but was convicted on the strength of the State’s evidence.

Prosecuting, Miss Tsitsi Mtukwa said on October 20 this year, at around 3 am, the woman (22) was sleeping in her bedroom while naked.She said the accused sneaked into the house through an open window and was spotted by the complainant.

Soon after getting into the house, the convict approached the woman who had been lying in bed facing down to turn over but she resisted.

He then placed a knife on her stomach threatening to stab her if she resisted any further instructions.

He raped the woman once while holding the knife and he went out through the window after committing the crime.

The complainant informed another villager who took her to Makhado Police Station where the matter was reported.

The convict was later arrested by the police following thorough investigations.