Siphelele Nketo

IT was on New Year’s Eve in 2023 when a 15-year-old had to deal with the traumatic scenario of being raped by the man she trusted the most.

The teenager from the rural village of Ndawana in Umzimkhulu was raped by a man (30) who is her neighbour.

On that night, she was at a New Year’s party. After she went out to use the restroom, she was grabbed by the suspect and he raped her.

She spent almost 14 days without informing the local authority, fearing for her life. The suspect threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

However, she ended up informing the police about the incident and the case was opened on January 14, 2024, at Evatt police station.

The suspect was arrested and charged for rape. After several court appearances at the Kokstad Regional Court, the suspect was convicted last month and later sentenced to undergo life imprisonment.

The suspect was declared unfit to possess a firearm.