Rapist of student will serve life sentence

A YOUNG university student who was brutally raped in the bushes after a get-together with friends, will finally get some closure after the culprit was found guilty and sentenced on Thursday.

Her rapist, Sfundo Dube (29) was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced at Empangeni Regional Magistrate’s Court to life in prison.

According to police reports, on 26 February last year, the 23-year-old victim was having drinks with her friends in eSikhaleni when the man offered them a lift to campus.

It was reported the ordeal started when the victim and her friends argued with Dube for taking another road to Empangeni.

Following the argument, it was said Dube dropped off the other girls on the way, but not the victim.

During court proceedings, the victim informed the court Dube took the road to Iniwe and entered the bushes where he parked his vehicle and assaulted her.

She said she tried to escape his clutches but he overpowered her and repeatedly raped her inside his car.

A community member walking past noticed the vehicle suspiciously parked inside the bushes and reported it to the police.

When Dube saw the police he fled the scene.

A case of rape was then reported at Empangeni SAPS and transferred to Empangeni FCS.

Dube was arrested the following day and made several court appearances until his sentencing.

KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa praised the FCS members for the sentence

‘We welcome the sentence handed over to the accused and hope it will send a clear message to others out there who think of committing such act in the future. It’s very disheartening that women can no longer trust men within our community and we plead with everyone to work with the police to fight crime and protect women and children.

‘We encourage every man out there to be a protector instead of being a perpetrator,’ he said.