Three men sentenced in rape cases

Three men were convicted of rape, two in Uitenhage and another in Kirkwood, in July.

Police spokesperson Captain Gerda Swart said the three separate cases were investigated by the Uitenhage Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“Child abuse, rape, and sexual and domestic violence are among the most destructive experiences affecting women and the occurrence of such violent crime takes a huge toll on the life of a victim,” she said.

None of the victims can be named due to the nature of the crimes.

On July 23, Thamsanqa Daba, 30, was sentenced in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court to 10 years in prison for the rape of a 54-year-old woman.

“The complainant was asleep in her home in the Kamesh area at 2am on July 1 2015 when she was woken up by the accused who held a knife against her neck and demanded money,” Swart said.

“The accused [Daba] took a Sassa card and then raped her.

“The victim gave an excellent description of the accused and he was arrested on September 14 2015.”

Also in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court, Mziyanda Qengqani, 25, was sentenced on July 16 to eight years’ imprisonment for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in KwaNobuhle on January 2 2017.

“The accused [Qengqani] entered the home of the complainant, who was alone at the time, and raped her.

“Qengqani was arrested the same evening.”

In Kirkwood, Vusani Nkosana, 29, was sentenced on July 6 to 10 years’ imprisonment for the rape of a 22-yearold woman at 2am on January 4 2014, when she was walking home in Moses Mabhida.