Two life terms for rapist

THE Mtunzini High Court found Mzwandile Khomba Nxumalo (35) guilty of nine serious crime charges on Monday.

Five counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, one for possession of suspected stolen property (victim’s cell phone) and one of using a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, were punished.

The case relates to incidents which occurred on 1 April and 21 April 2016.

In the first case the victim (18) was kidnapped and raped by the suspect after he gave her a lift in the Maqhwakazi area, outside eShowe.

Along the way he turned into the sugar cane field at KwaKhoza and raped the victim three times before threatening to kill her with a bush knife.

He then dropped her off in eShowe.

The victim noted the registration of the van and also his cell phone number.

A case was opened at the Mandini SAPS and was transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit at the eShowe SAPS for investigation.

Second case linked

While investigating the incident, a similar case was opened at the eShowe SAPS, where a 19-year-old victim was given a lift by a neighbour and was raped twice in the bushes at uMlalazi Dam outside eShowe.

The victim was then dropped off in town and she, accompanied by her sister, opened a case at the eShowe SAPS.

The suspect was traced and arrested on the same day.

DNA and an identification parade linked the suspect to both cases.