Durban — The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has welcomed the successful prosecution of a man who was sentenced to life and 10 years imprisonment by the Ntuzuma Regional Court on Monday, for raping and robbing a 78-year-old woman.
Dalithemba Khewa and others raped and robbed the woman in the Ntuzuma area in May 2018.
NPA KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said that on the day of the incident, Khewa and his accomplices kicked down the door of the woman’s home while armed with knives. They then took turns to rape her and fled with R130 and some groceries.
Ramkisson-Kara saidthe visually impaired woman was unable to identify her attackers, however she was taken to the Phoenix Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received the necessary psychosocial services, counselling and support.
In February 2020, Khewa was arrested following the DNA samples which were collected at the woman’s home.
Ramkisson-Kara said the matter was indicative of the integral role DNA evidence plays in the successful finalisation of matters.
She said that in court, State advocate, Naushaad Harripersadh stated that the complainant was a defenceless elderly woman who was also almost blind.
“She was therefore the most vulnerable of victims. Khewa was sentenced accordingly and the court ruled that his details must be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, thus rendering him unsuitable to work with children and older persons.
“He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” explained Ramkisson-Kara.
Daily News