KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Mrs Weziwe Thusi, has welcomed the life sentence imposed on a 30-year-old child rapist. Ngangetshe Mhlongo was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 4-year-old girl in March last year. The rape happened at Mthunzini near Empangeni, on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.
MEC Thusi said:
“This punishment certainly fits the crime. This man ruined that little girl’s life. The Esikhawni Regional Court has sent a clear message to other would be rapists that rape and especially the rape will not be tolerated in our society, let alone that of a child.”
She added: “I would like to congratulate the police who investigated the case because without their thorough investigation the case would still be unresolved, or worse, the rapist would still be walking the streets, posing a threat to other children.”
“This man was not a stranger as he was the girl’s neighbour, which shows that our children are not safe anywhere and as parents we must always be vigilant.” The MEC has called on parents to go an extra mile to protect their children and on communities to shun those in their midst who abuse children.
