A man that disappeared seven years ago when he was released from prison to undergo a psych evaluation, was finally found guilty of raping a teenager and attempting to rape another and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Gqeberha Regional Court recently.
Sakiwo Mxotwa (40) was first arrested on July 16, 2013, after raping a mentally challenged 13-year-old two days prior to his arrest. The victim was playing with her friends in the street in KwaNoxolo when she was lured into his house and raped. The girl told her friends who in turn alerted her parents and Mxotwa was subsequently arrested.
During 2015, he was released pending a psychology report. However, when the report was ready in 2016, Mxotwa could not be traced. In the meantime, on December 3, 2017, he also attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl.
She was asleep on a coach at a neighbour’s house when she awoke with a man on top of her, busy undressing her. The teenager managed to push him and ran away. A case of attempted rape was opened at SAPS Bethelsdorp and Mxotwa was arrested on the same day.
Police spokesperson, Capt. Sandra Janse van Rensburg, said that after this arrest, he was able to once again appear in court on the 2013 rape case. He was later released on bail for the duration of both cases.
On December 3, 2021, Mxotwa was found guilty on charges of rape and attempted rape and was sentenced on Thursday to life imprisonment on the rape charge and an additional eight years for attempted rape. The 8-year-sentence will run concurrent to the life sentence.
Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brig. Thandiswa Kupiso, has lauded the investigating officer, D/Sgt Luzuko Pehlo from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Gqeberha, for securing a life sentence for this repeat offender.
“As National Child Protection Week commences on May 29, 2022 to June 4, 2022, we need to collectively raise awareness of the need to protect our children against abuse, exploitation, negligence and all forms of violence. Rapists such as Mxotwa must be removed from society so that our children may never have to suffer any form of abuse, instead they should be playing freely. I encourage everyone to intensify the fight against abuse of our children and unite to end this crippling social illness by reporting these criminals to police,” Kupiso added.
