A 43-year-old rapist from Mpumalanga has been sentenced in the Boschfontein Regional Court to 20 years direct imprisonment for raping a neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter in Schoemansdal, Nkomazi.
Mbongeni Andries Shongwe pleaded guilty to raping the young girl.
The court heard the incident took place on March 3, 2023, when the girl was playing with her friend in the neighbours' yard. Shongwe emerged and just took the child to the back of his yard and raped her.
In his plea statement, Shongwe admitted to penetrating the girl but claimed he later ‘withdrew’ as he felt sorry for his actions.
State Prosecutor Joshua Sibeko urged the court to prescribe the minimum sentence and submitted that Shongwe should have protected the victim.
He further submitted that there was overwhelming evidence against Shongwe as he was caught in the act by the girl’s friend. A J88 medical report also confirmed the allegations levelled against Shongwe.
The victim’s impact statement prepared by the Court Preparation Officer indicated that the girl lives in fear and is afraid of men. Her performance at school which has since dropped was also presented to the court.
Delivering the judgment, the court found that there were compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. The court also took into consideration that Shongwe pleaded guilty to the offence and did not waste the court’s time and he is a first time offender.
Shongwe was sentenced to 20 years of direct imprisonment. It was also ordered his name be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders and declared unfit to work with children. Shongwe will also be obliged to inform any prospective employer about his conviction. The court further issued an order to seize any firearm in his possession.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence imposed.
IOL