A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment and an additional 15 years behind bars for raping a woman and her 10-year-old daughter at their home in Dullstroom.
Gordon Mabuza was sentenced by the Belfast Regional Court on October 21 after being convicted of two counts of rape, attempted murder, housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery.
According to the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, the authority has welcomed the sentence, describing it as an appropriate response to the brutality of the crimes.
The offences were committed on December 23, 2022, when Mabuza entered the victims’ home through a window while the 38-year-old woman and her daughter were sleeping in separate rooms.
He raped the mother and stabbed her several times with a knife during the attack. He also threatened to kill her if she reported the incident.
Mabuza then went to the room where the 10-year-old girl was sleeping and raped her. The child lost consciousness following the assault.
Despite her serious injuries, the mother managed to seek help from a neighbour. Both victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The child was discharged after three days, while her mother remained hospitalised for approximately two weeks.
During the trial, Mabuza denied committing the offences. However, the State, led by prosecutor Makhosonke Mashinini, presented evidence that included witness testimony, DNA evidence linking Mabuza to the crimes and J88 medical reports.
The court accepted the State’s evidence, rejected Mabuza’s version of events and convicted him.
During arguments on sentence, Mashinini highlighted the severity of the attack, the vulnerability of the child and the violation of the victims’ dignity, bodily integrity and sense of security in their own home.
The State argued that the sentence needed to reflect the seriousness of the crimes and their devastating impact on the victims.
The court sentenced Mabuza to life imprisonment for each rape count and 15 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder. He was also sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery.
In addition, the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children. His particulars will also be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The NPA has reiterated its commitment to fighting gender-based violence and crimes against children.
“Women and children have the right to feel safe in their homes, and those who violate their dignity, bodily integrity and security must face the full might of the law,” the authority said.
The NPA further emphasised that it remains committed to prosecuting perpetrators of gender-based violence without fear, favour or prejudice.
The sentence underscores the importance of holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable and ensuring that victims’ experiences remain central to the pursuit of justice.
