(Archive photo: Anja van der Merwe/Maroela Media)
A man from Welkom in the Free State, almost 20 years after he attacked, kidnapped and raped a 21-year-old woman in her home, has been sentenced to life in prison after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
According to Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in 2006 the woman was sleeping in her home with two minor children when she woke up and saw a shadow standing over her bed.
The attacker, whose face was covered with a balaclava, sprayed her with pepper spray before dragging her into the living room. He was armed with a knife and threatened and raped the woman.
He then forced her out of the house and took her to an abandoned container in an open field across from her house. There he raped her again while still threatening her with the knife.
After the attack, he brought the woman back to her home and fled the scene.
The woman immediately reported the incident to the police. A forensic medical examination was carried out and DNA samples were taken, but the attacker was unknown to her at the time and could not be identified for years.
Mzimkhulu Binda (48)’s DNA profile was captured in 2022 after he was arrested in connection with another case. Forensic analysis later showed his DNA matched evidence collected in the 2006 rape case.
This led to his arrest and prosecution.
Binda denied the allegations during the trial. He claimed that he and the complainant were in a romantic relationship and that the sexual intercourse took place with consent.
The court, after cross-examination and consideration of all the evidence, rejected this version as false and found him guilty on all the charges.
State prosecutor Kekeletso Mathoka argued in aggravation of sentence that Binda has shown no remorse, lied to the court and poses a danger to society. She argued that life imprisonment was appropriate given the seriousness of the crimes and the circumstances of the case.
The court agreed and imposed the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
Binda was sentenced in the Welkom Regional Court to life imprisonment for rape, five years for kidnapping and three years for burglary. The sentences for burglary and kidnapping will be served concurrently with the life sentence.
The NPA has detectives. Pontsho Mokoena praised for her commitment and persistence to ensure that justice is finally done.
Senokoatsane says the successful prosecution highlights the important role that forensic science and DNA technology play in solving serious crimes, even years after they have been committed.
According to him, the NPA remains committed to holding perpetrators of gender-based violence and sexual crimes accountable, regardless of how much time has passed since the crimes were committed.