THERE'S justice at last for a rape victim three years after a horrific incident.
Five years ago in 2018, the 21-year-old woman was gang-raped inside a vehicle at a tavern in Morgenzon, Mpumalanga.
At the time she was only 16 years old and her perpetrators were between the ages of 28 and 38.
According to police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, after the horrific incident the matter was reported to the cops and a case was assigned to the Standerton Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS).
This was where investigations into the matter began, resulting in a speedy arrest.
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“Investigators worked tirelessly and conducted an intense investigation thereby making a breakthrough as they arrested all three suspects on the same day of the incident,” Mohlala said.
The trio, Sikhumbuzo Jacob Hlophe (38), Thokozani David Hlophe (28) and Thokozane Obert Zwane (30), were found guilty and convicted for their heinous crime.
They were sentenced to 18 years of direct imprisonment each by the Secunda Regional Court on Monday, 4 December.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomed the sentence and commended the members' quick response as well as the exceptional investigation which led to the sentence.
"The sentence came at the time when the world has embarked on 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children. The sentence should serve as a deterrence and lesson for community members to refrain from any form of abuse," Manamela said.
