Taxi driver receives double life sentences and 41 years imprisonment for rape
The Port Elizabeth High Court sentenced Kwanele Nogodama to 2 life terms and an additional 41 year prison term for his crimes on 17 October 2017. It is alleged in court papers that his victims were university students at the Nelson Mandela University at the time of the incident. Court papers further revealed that, it all started when the victims who were 18 and 20 years at the time in 2016, boarded a taxi driven by Nogodama a 29 year-old with the intention of going to Port Elizabeth’s Central Business District (CBD).
The accused failed to stop at their destination and instead drove straight to Kwazakhele Township where he robbed them of their cellphones, a tablet and cash. It was also revealed in court that, Nogodama raped one of the victims before driving them back to the CBD. In court documents, they also describe how he had been driving recklessly through the city centre, at one stage stopped, and smoked drugs. From there he drove them to his house in Kwazakhele where he raped both of them and forced them to perform oral sex on him. He kept the women at his house until the following morning where he allowed them to leave.
The victims also informed the court that Nogodama apologised at one stage for what he had done and even gave them back their cellphones. One victim managed to send a text message to her mother in Limpopo informing her that she has been kidnapped. According to the victims, shortly after that, Nogodama took the cellphones away from them. He accompanied them to a bus stop as he could not drive the taxi anymore because it had a flat tyre. He showed them where the stop was and before the victims knew it he disappeared.
They walked looking for a police station, were lucky to see a lady nurse reversing out of her driveway, and asked for her assistance. She took them to the nearest police station and that is where they reported the matter. Shortly afterwards, Nogodama was arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances and pointing a firearm. Judge Makaula who presided on this matter, informed the court he was satisfied that the State Prosecutor, Advocate Ismat Cerfontein has been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Nogodama committed these crimes.
He also went on to say that, the two victims were credible witnesses who related their story in court with confidence and they never gave conflicting statements. However, he was very scathing to Nogodama informing the court that, he lied from the beginning when he said that he was in a relationship with the two victims. What further compounds this situation is the fact that one of the victims was still a virgin and he deflowered him in the most vicious manner.
Judge Makaula also found that his version of events were not credible and his evidence was full of inconsistencies and improbabilities. Judge Makaula found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to two life terms and additional 41 years and the sentences will run concurrently. The DPP applauded the hard work of Advocate Cerfontein and her team for this sentence. The NPA welcomes the sentence.
Enquiries:
Tsepo Ndwalaza
NPA Regional Spokesperson Eastern Cape: DPP Grahamstown
Cell: 071 680 3701
