Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A self-proclaimed prophet who sexually attacked a 12-year-old girl after claiming he would cleanse her of evil spirits that were making her fail at school has been jailed for 15 years.
Mduduzi Khumalo (39) from Bulawayo’s Makokoba suburb appeared on Friday before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla, who convicted and sentenced him to an effective 15 years in prison.
In delivering the sentence, Ms Mkandla said the offender took advantage of the minor and attacked her.
“As a parent, the minor looked up to you for protection but you betrayed her trust and took advantage of her vulnerability and innocence to sexually abuse her,” she said.
Ms Mkandla said courts are duty-bound to protect the Girl Child.
“The courts are there to play a pivotal role in protecting the Girl Child as they are vulnerable. You will be jailed to give you time to reform and also send a message to would-be offenders that sexually abusing the girl child is not tolerated,” said Ms Mkandla.
In mitigation, Khumalo said: “I’m the sole breadwinner and I am looking after two minor children aged four and seven. I therefore plead with the court to be lenient with me when passing sentence.”
In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Tsungai Mutapi said: “The victim is a child and is vulnerable. The offender is aged 39 while the victim is aged 12. The age difference is huge. The accused manipulated the victim after making her believe that after sleeping with him she would be exorcised of evil spirits. The incident will haunt the minor for life hence the call for a stiffer sentence,” she said.
Ms Mutapi told the court that the incident occurred last Sunday shortly after 230PM.
“The minor was sent by her grandmother to town. On her way from town she met Khumalo who told her that there were evil spirits, which were causing her to fail at school and to always fall sick,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that Khumalo told the minor that to be exorcised of the evil spirits he had to sleep with her, and out of fear the minor fell for the trap.
“He took her to his home where, upon arrival, he led her to his bedroom where he raped her,” the court heard.
The matter came to light on the following day after the minor had difficulties in walking and disclosed the ordeal to her grandmother. The matter was reported to the police, leading to Khumalo’s arrest.
Thank you magistrate Mkandla for giving this lunatic 15 years in prison. If I were a magistrate I would have preferred 25 years. Some of your fellow magistrates have been sentencing similar animals to 3 or so years or community service even. One wonders whether magistrates use the same laws to arrive at their sentences?