…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
Musa Vinny Hlungwane has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 59-year-old woman in the North West province of South Africa.
The crime:
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Hlungwane had attacked the woman as she walked home and dragged her to an abandoned house where he raped her.
Arrest and conviction:
The victim was later able to report the incident to police, and Hlungwane was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge.
During the trial, Hlungwane was also convicted of vehicle theft and received a five-year sentence.
Prosecution calls for life imprisonment:
The state prosecutor, Muriel Masilana, urged the court to impose the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment for the rape case.
In aggravation of the sentence, Masilana spoke about the prevalence of gender-based violence and rape in South Africa, and the court’s responsibility to protect women and children from such acts.
Life sentence imposed:
Magistrate Maryna Swanepoel agreed with the state and imposed the life sentence on Hlungwane.
Context:
Rape and gender-based violence remain serious issues in South Africa, with high rates of attacks against women and children.
The country has recently seen a number of high-profile cases and protests calling for greater action against perpetrators of these crimes.