KOMANI – Khaya Masiba (41), a serial rapist, has been sentenced by the Komani Regional Court to four life terms for raping four women in separate incidents in Mlungisi between 2013 and 2015, with DNA evidence linking him to all four cases.

Woman attacked after leaving tavern

According to police spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, the first incident occurred on 9 June 2013, when the now 54-year-old victim was returning from a tavern at night and was approached by Masiba, who was her ex-boyfriend at the time.

“Masiba grabbed the victim and dragged her to his shack, where he assaulted, stabbed and raped her,” said Mgolodela.

She said the victim reported the rape to Mlungisi Police.

Mgolodela said Masiba was arrested, but the case was struck off the roll pending DNA laboratory results.

Victim dragged to cemetery and raped

In another unrelated incident on 2 March 2014, the now 41-year-old victim was having a quarrel with her husband while travelling in their car in Mlungisi.

Mgolodela said the victim got out of the vehicle and continued travelling on foot.

“While the victim was approaching Mlungisi Cemetery, she was accosted by two men who dragged her to the cemetery and took turns raping her,” said Mgolodela.

She said the men then took the victim from the cemetery to a shack in Mlungisi, where one of them begged for forgiveness.

Mgolodela said the victim laid a rape charge at Mlungisi Police Station and investigations ensued.

Woman chased, strangled and raped

In the third incident, on 29 August 2015, the now 41-year-old victim was on her way to Khayelitsha Location in Mlungisi when she was accosted by four men on Bulawayo Street in Unifound, Mlungisi.

Mgolodela said the victim was slightly intoxicated at the time.

“The four men chased her and the victim managed to run to one of the nearby yards. One of the men continued the chase and succeeded in catching up with her in the yard. He grabbed and dragged the victim out of the yard and onto the street, where he strangled, undressed and raped her,” said Mgolodela.

She said the suspect was not known to the victim, but a rape case was opened at Mlungisi Police Station and investigations ensued.

Woman attacked in her shack

Mgolodela said that on 2 October 2015, the now 56-year-old victim was asleep in her shack when she was woken in the middle of the night by someone fondling her and trying to undress her.

“When the victim resisted, she was badly assaulted and raped. The suspect then ran away and escaped through the window,” said Mgolodela.

She said another rape case was opened with Mlungisi SAPS.

Mgolodela said Sergeant Yongama Hillary Mkabile from the Komani Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit pursued the investigations until DNA laboratory results were issued in July 2019, linking Masiba to all four cases.

She said Masiba was traced and re-arrested in July 2019.

Mgolodela said Masiba remained in custody until he was sentenced to four life terms by the Komani Regional Court on 20 August.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

District Commissioner Major General Rudolph Adolph welcomed the four life sentences imposed on Masiba.

Mkabile was also commended by Adolph for securing the sentence, a month after securing another life sentence from the Cacadu Regional Court on 24 July for another rape case that took more than a decade to be finalised.

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