adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A FORM Four pupil at Nkulumane High School in Bulawayo was yesterday sentenced to do community service for bedding his 14-year-old girlfriend. Mduduzi Ndlovu, 18, pleaded not guilty to rape charges and told regional Magistrate Chrispen Mberewere that he had consensual sex with the Form Two pupil.
“Your honour I didn’t rape her. We agreed to have sex because we’re lovers. She said I raped her to cover up for spending the night away from home,” said Ndlovu.
Magistrate Mberewere rebuked him for the act and convicted him of a lesser charge of sleeping with a minor.
“The court condemns sexual offences and though it’s clear that you had consensual sex with her, you’re still guilty of sleeping with a minor. You’re therefore sentenced to complete 410 hours of community service,” said Mberewere.
Prosecuting Tinashe Dzipe told the court that on January 30 at around 7PM, the girl ran away to her friend’s home in Nkulumane after her mother told her not to go to church.
She did not find her friend and decided to go to Ndlovu’s home. She met her friend on the way and they both went to Ndlovu’s residence.
Ndlovu offered the girls a place to sleep in his bedroom where there were two beds. The victim slept on the same bed with Ndlovu.
At about 11PM, Ndlovu switched off the lights and forcibly kissed the girl, threatening to assault her if she resisted. Ndlovu then reached for condoms that were under his pillow and raped the girl once.
The girl went back home the following morning and when her mother asked her where she had spent the night, she said Ndlovu had raped her.
Online Reporter