In 2019, Bhekani Mlaba was sentenced to life in jail for kidnapping, assaulting, and repeatedly raping a lady in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal.
Wednesday in the Eshowe regional court, the 32-year-old offender was sentenced to life in prison for rape, five years for kidnapping, and three years for aggravated assault.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mlaba befriended his victim on Facebook while posing as a woman.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the NPA, stated that the offender had been conversing with the complainant online for some time and had been confiding in him about her financial difficulties.
“The offense occurred between May and July of 2019, when Mlaba informed her he would pay her R10,000 to establish her own business, but she would have to fly to Melmoth to retrieve the money. Ramkisson-Kara stated that the couple had never called each other because Mlaba had informed her that his mobile speaker was defective.
“After the complainant traveled to Melmoth and waited at a bus stop for Mlaba, he assured her that he would send his nephew to meet her and bring her to his home.
“Mlaba arrived and recommended they take a woodland shortcut. In the forest, he grabbed a knife, ordered her to disrobe, and sexually assaulted her. He then instructed her to choose between being his lover or being killed.
“She made the decision to spare her life and pledged not to disclose [the rape] to the police. Then, he brought her to his relative’s home and announced her as his fiancee.”
The victim was confined to an isolated room and prohibited from leaving or communicating with anyone.
Three months of rape and violence occurred until the woman alerted a family member while fetching water from a nearby river. Mlaba was taken into custody after calling the police.
»Facebook rapist sentenced to life in prison in KwaZulu-Natal«