A 95-year-old man has been jailed for a string of rapes and burglaries in Ntabamhlophe and Wembezi.
Sabelo Khumalo, aged 36, was sentenced by the Estcourt District Court. OSpokesperson for the police, Captain Ntathu Ndlovu, Khumalo committed these crimes between 2021 and 2023.
“He was found guilty of abusing five women. The victims are between the ages of 15 and 36 and this man abused them in different incidents,” said Capt Ndlovu.
Elaborating, Khumalo said that he would raid their homes, break into their homes illegally, rape them and take their belongings.
He said the court, before handing down the sentence he deserved, listened to all the evidence of how much his actions affected the victims mentally, leaving them constantly in fear of their safety.
“He was sentenced to 75 years for five counts of rape, and was sentenced to 20 years more, for each of the four burglaries he committed,” said Capt Ndlovu.
Uthe abaphenyi bophiko lweFamily Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) Estcourt, they are working hard to ensure that Khumalo is given a harsh sentence. He said they did this to show that the judiciary is committed to ensuring that women and children who are powerless to defend themselves, the law protects them.
“Perpetrators are punished for their actions. This sentence will send a strong message that sexual harassment and violent crimes will not be tolerated,” he said.