A MAN from Plumtree in Matabeleland South who assaulted a Matobo woman unconscious before robbing and raping her was on Friday slapped with an effective 26-year jail term.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Busani Ngwenya (32) was denying charges of rape and assault when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional Court magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi, but was convicted after a full trial.
Nyathi sentenced him to six years for assault and 20 years for rape.
The State led by Masimba Saruaka had called two witnesses, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the rape victim. The first witness told the court that on September 23 2013 they were on their way to Nyoni’s Plot in Figtree from Patimile Plot when Ngwenya emerged from the bush at Ukuthula Farm paddock in Figtree.
“He threatened to assault me if I looked at him. He told us to give him our cellphones and money and I told him that I did not have one. He then said ‘old woman, if you have never seen someone die, today you will see one. If I had knife I would cut you with it’,” she said.
The witness said Ngwenya then said to the victim: “If you resist I will take your baby and cut his head off.”
She said Ngwenya threatened the victim before assaulting her with a log three times and she fell unconscious.
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She said Ngwenya then ordered her to leave and not to look back if she wanted to live and left him with the unconscious victim. The victim told the court that following the assault she also sustained a fractured hand.
“I later gained consciousness and discovered I was alone,” the victim said.
“I noticed that my panties had been removed and I had substance on my private parts and I knew I had been raped. I got up while staggering and went to a nearby plot where people took me to Figtree Police Station where I made a report. I was then taken to Plumtree Hospital for treatment.”
