The Centane Regional Magistrate Court has sentenced 30-year-old Melisizwe
Mtshatsheni to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl at Qoboqobo
Village in Centane.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Siphokazi Mawisa, it is alleged that Mtshatsheni went to the homestead of the victim on April
16, 2021 looking for the victim’s sister but could not find her. He then asked the victim to accompany him to look for
the sister at her boyfriend’s place.
“Upon not finding her there, he suggested that they should go to his homestead at
Qoboqobo. On their arrival at his place he closed the door and raped her. Due
to the dedication and excellent detective investigations by Detective Sergeant
Maxhoba Mrhasi of Butterworth Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual
Offences Unit (FCS), Mtshatsheni was found guilty of rape and sentenced to life
imprisonment,” said Mawisa.
The Amathole Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Ngangema
Xakavu welcomed the life sentence handed to Mtshatsheni and commended the
investigation officer for a sterling job.
” We hope that the
sentence will send a strong message to all those who abuse women and children,” said Xakavu.
