SA – In November 2020, a 38-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for raping a nine-year-old girl.

According to Anelisa Ngcakani, Regional Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the man from Peddie, Zamumzi Ntlokwana, is not related to the little girl but is known to her and her family.

“On 28 November 2020, at approximately 20:00, the accused visited the victim’s home, which is also situated in Peddie. He found the child with her younger brother and their caregiver. Ntlokwana sent the caregiver to the shop to buy cigarettes for him.

“He then instructed the little girl to switch off the television and the lights. He then told the children to go and sleep in their bedroom, and while they were asleep, Ntlokwana entered their bedroom, undressed the girl, and raped her,” Ngcakani said.

She claimed that when the caregiver returned an hour later, the lights had been turned off and the door had been locked. “She knocked at the door for some time, but Ntlokwana did not open immediately because he was busy raping the child. He then threatened to harm the child if she dared report the rape,” Ngcakani said.

Ntlokwana pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was with his girlfriend in his shack that evening and that she testified in his defence. “However, evidence proved that they were untruthful. In aggravation of sentence the prosecutor, Advocate Vatiswa Jodwana-Blayi, led the evidence of the investigating officer, Sergeant Nozuko Booi with regards to Ntlokwana’s previous convictions.

“When he committed the crime, Ntlokwana was on parole as he had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for several charges which include rape,” she said.

Advocate Jodwana-Blayi also led the testimony of the girl’s mother and forensic social worker Captain Ntombizandile Jiya about the impact of the rape on the young girl. “The NPA welcomes the sentence and applauds the investigation teams that assisted with the evidence during the trial,” Ngcakani concluded.