Fifteen years later, the East London regional court has handed life sentences to three men who in a brutal spree gang-raped several women as well as a 15-year-old girl in front of her little brother, in 2010. Sivuyile Mbondela, 41, Sisanele Hletyiwe, 33, and Thanduxolo Kedama, 34, gang-raped the women and teenager in Ngcobo village, in Stutterheim. Their accomplice, Sandile Mbondela, died before the trial commenced.
In addition to the life sentences, they received 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for housebreaking with intent to commit rape. Sivuyile Mbondela received a further 20 years for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. “The trio were also declared unfit to possess firearms, and their names will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said.
“The ordeal began on the night of July 4 2010, when a 15-year-old girl was awoken by unknown men who forced open a door secured only with a nail. “One assailant pointed a firearm at her and her seven-year-old brother, while the others ransacked the room. “They robbed her of a cellphone and R100 before three of the men took turns raping her in the presence of her brother. “She was then taken outside to nearby bushes and raped again.” When her cousin arrived home by taxi moments later, the attackers set upon her too.
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