Our Reporter
THE Temba Regional Court has sentenced Lewis Khumalo (34) to life imprisonment, for one charge of rape and a further 10 years for a separate count of rape. The court ordered that the sentenceswould run concurrently.
Khumalo was sentenced for a 3 August 2017 rape he committed at Suurman, near Temba after accosting an unsuspecting 36-year-old woman. The woman was on her way from work when he dragged her into a nearby bush and raped her before fleeing the scene.
In another incident that occurred at Hans Kekana Village on 2 April 2018, near Temba, Khumalo and an unknown accomplice met a 21-year-old female walking with her boyfriend. They then threatened him, resulting in him fleeing the scene. They subsequently dragged the woman to nearby bushes and took turns to rape her.
Both incidents were reported to the police, and the accused was arrested in September 2018 where he was remanded after the court denied him bail.
The complainants managed to identify him from a parade of suspects. He pleaded guilty of both crimes when he was eventually taken to court.
State prosecutor, Samuel Makwela, urged the court to consider the physical and psychological harm that Khumalo’s actions had caused to the victims. Magistrate Dorothy Lekwakwe agreed with the state and remarked that Khumalo was facing severe crimes and said the sentence was befitting.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the collaboration between the prosecutor, investigating officer, and other role players in bringing the perpetrator to book. She called for a united front against such offences in the communities.
