The Elukwatini Regional Court sentenced Thami Cornelius Mbuyane to life imprisonment plus 10 years for raping two women between 2019 and 2020.
Image: File
Two women who were attacked in separate incidents in Mayflower, Mpumalanga, have seen their rapist sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 10 years behind bars.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the Elukwatini Regional Court convicted and sentenced 44-year-old Thami Cornelius Mbuyane for rapes committed between November 2019 and October 2020.
In the first incident, which occurred in October 2020, a victim living with a disability was at home with friends when Mbuyane arrived and enquired about her condition. The friends later accompanied her to a local shop, with the accused following them.
Along the way, he suddenly grabbed the victim, assaulted her and forcibly took her away despite her resistance. He dragged her to his shack, where he raped her.
In a separate incident, the second victim was walking home from a local shop when she encountered Mbuyane. He initiated a conversation before threatening her with a knife and dragging her to his shack, where he raped her.
The victim’s friends later became suspicious after noticing her emotional distress. When they questioned her, she led them to the shack, where they found the accused. When confronted, he pleaded with them not to report the matter.
The incident was reported to police and Mbuyane was subsequently arrested.
During the trial, he denied the allegations, claiming that the sexual acts were consensual and that he was in a romantic relationship with one of the complainants.
State prosecutor Mxolisi Biyela presented evidence, including the victims’ testimonies, first reports, J88 medical reports, corroborating witness testimony, and positive DNA results linking Mbuyane to the offences.
The court found the State witnesses credible and rejected the accused’s version as false, convicting him on two counts of rape.
In aggravation of sentence, the State emphasised the vulnerability of women, particularly those living with mental impairment, and argued that society cannot tolerate the marginalisation and abuse of women by perpetrators such as the accused.
The court found no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence. Mbuyane was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of the mentally impaired victim and 10 years’ direct imprisonment for the second rape.
The court further ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Nyuswa said the authority remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of victims of sexual offences and ensuring that offenders are held accountable.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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