adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A Nkayi rapist who stunned a packed court when he claimed his victim offered to pay him with sex after carrying out an errand for her was yesterday sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
Qinisela Ndlovu, 44, was convicted of rape on his own plea of guilty by regional magistrate Abednico Ndebele.
Ndlovu will, however, serve 15 years after Ndebele suspended three years for five years on condition of good behaviour.
He had told Ndebele he had consensual sex with the 14-year-old girl, a neighbour.
He said he could not resist the offer from the teenage girl, as he was sexually starved.
“Your honour this girl came to me and requested that I go to a village which is very far to deliver a cellphone to a certain man. She said if I did that, she would in turn allow me into her room at night and have intercourse.
“The offer was shocking but in the end I agreed and went to the village and delivered the phone as per her request. After doing that, it was her turn to meet her part of the deal and we had sex in her room,” said Ndlovu.
Ndebele asked why an aged man like him agreed to be sent by a 14-year-old girl but Ndlovu was quick to suggest that she appeared to have a genuine problem and needed help.
“I’m so sorry your honour for sleeping with a minor. The temptation was irresistible since I was alone as my wife was sick and had been admitted in hospital for a long time,” said Ndlovu.
“I was lonely and needed to satisfy my sexual desire thus I accepted her offer.”
When the victim took to the witness stand she rubbished Ndlovu’s claims.
The girl told the court Ndlovu was a liar who threatened her with death after raping her in November last year.
“He was our neighbour and came to our home asking for water to drink. After drinking water he dragged me into a bedroom hut, threw me to the floor and produced his manhood.
“He undressed me while threatening me with death. He then raped me once and went away,” said the girl.
She said Ndlovu later approached her that night and asked for a second round but she managed to escape.
“He sneaked into my room and said he wanted to rape me again but I managed to escape to my grandmother’s room where I slept. He dropped his cap and came back in the morning to collect it.
“I notified my grandmother who then reported the matter to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest,” she said.
Prosecuting, Concilia Ncube told the court that on November 29 last year at around 1PM, Ndlovu went to the girl’s home.
“She said he found her alone and asked for water to drink.
“After drinking water, Ndlovu got hold of the girl and exposed his manhood before asking to have sex with her. The girl refused,” said Ncube.
“Ndlovu pulled the girl to a nearby bedroom hut and when she tried to scream, Ndlovu closed her mouth using a cloth. He forced her to lie down and raped her once.”
She said Ndlovu asked for another round later in the night but the girl escaped. The girl later reported the matter to her grandmother who then reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
“The matter came to light by way of a tipoff. The girl was then taken to hospital,” said Ncube.
Online Reporter