Crime

MBABANE – A 24-year-old liSwati male has received three life terms in South Africa for raping his cousin.

According to SA media reports on Monday, the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence of three life terms handed down by the eLukwatini Magistrates Court in Mpumalanga to the liSwati for raping his 15-year-old cousin on multiple occasions.

According to the NPA, the accused, who is said to reside in the kingdom, visited the survivor at Nhlazatshe No.6 in the Gert Sibande District between November 2022 and March 2023, where she lives with family members.

During these visits, he is reported to have waited for others to sleep and entered the survivor’s bedroom to forcefully engage in sexual intercourse with her, instructing her to remain silent.

The abuse is reported to have been revealed during an awareness campaign by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and social workers at her school somewhere in Nhlazatshe, Mpumalanga.

The names of the perpetrator and survivor have been withheld to protect the survivor.

The NPA further reported that the survivor bravely disclosed the ordeal, prompting her mother’s involvement and a police investigation, which led to the accused’s arrest.

In the South African court, the accused is said to have denied allegations, claiming consent and a love relationship with the victim.

Full article available in our publication.

A 24-year-old liSwati male has received three life terms in South Africa for raping his cousin. (Pic: Courtesy)