The Durban High Court convicted and sentenced Lindokuhle Mthethwa (22) to two life sentences for rape and murder. He was further sentenced to five years for housebreaking plus another five years for kidnapping.
On 4 July 2015 at about 4:30 in the morning, the victim, Velile Mngomezulu (5) was sleeping in her room at Etete area, Umhlali policing area near KwaDukuza. The accused who is also from the area broken the door open and took the victim away to a nearby bushes. She was raped and thereafter realised that the victim might be able to identify the him, he than bang the victim’s head against the rocks. The victim was later found and taken to a nearby hospital where she later died of her injuries. A case of murder, rape, kidnapping and housebreaking was opened at Umhlali police station for further investigation. Within 24 hours, the police with the assistance of the community traced and arrested the accused. He was charged accordingly with all counts and taken to court.
The KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial commissioner, Major General Bhekinkosi Langa commended good work displayed by Umhlali detectives who thoroughly investigated this case. ‘The members presented enough evidence to court that led to a harsh sentenced to the accused. I also thanked the community members for their role in making sure that the accused is brought to court immediately after he committed these crimes,’ he said.
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