Girl (12), Collapses And Succumbs To Mental Problems On Seeing Her Bulawayo Rapist

A 12-YEAR-OLD rape victim collapsed and immediately developed a mental problem after seeing a man who held a knife to her neck while he raped her. The incident happened at a police station where the complainant had been taken to identify her assailant. The girl was later admitted to Ingutsheni Central Hospital for months before she was declared fully recovered to testify in court.

Susani Ndlovu from Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo denied raping the minor before regional magistrate Tranos Utahwashe. He claimed to be “a virgin” born to prayerful parents but his parents testified against him.

After hearing overwhelming evidence against Ndlovu, a disgusted Utahwashe said he was the worst rapist to appear before him. The magistrate sentenced Ndlovu to 20 years imprisonment.

“The accused stands convicted of a serious crime which was committed in aggravating circumstances. The complainant suffered a mental problem after setting her eyes on the rapist and had to be put on treatment,” said magistrate Utahwashe.

“This is one of the worst rape cases I’ve dealt with so far and accused is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which three years is suspended for five years. We’re sick and tired of rape cases and it’s the duty of this court to protect the girl child”

In his defence Ndlovu told magistrate Utahwashe that he was conducting prayer sessions with his parents for the girl on the day the offence was committed.

Ndlovu was left with egg on his face when his parents, who he claimed could exonerate him, told the court that he is the black sheep of their family.

“He’s lying as we never took him for prayers on that particular day and the complainant never suffered a mental problem before she was raped.

“My son is troublesome and at one time he broke our neighbour’s windows. He comes home drunk and of late we’ve been failing to control him,” said Ndlovu’s mother.

Robin Mukura for the state told the court that the girl revealed the rape case when her grandmother noticed that she had difficulties walking, six months after the abuse.

“Sometime in January last year, the girl was sent to Ndlovu’s home to recharge her grandmother’s cellphone battery. Ndlovu’s parents were absent and she gave the phone to Ndlovu,” said Mukura.

“As she was about to leave the house, Ndlovu blocked her way and locked the door. He took a kitchen knife from a drawer; pressed it against the girl’s neck threatening to slice it off if she resisted his demands.”

The court heard Ndlovu pushed the girl to his room and forced her to lie on her back on the floor.

“The girl tried to scream and Ndlovu covered her mouth. Ndlovu raped the girl once and ordered her not to tell anyone before releasing her,” he said.

Mukura said the girl out of fear kept the matter to herself until July 11 when her grandmother saw her crying.

“The girl was refusing to eat and she told her grandmother that she was feeling pain on her privates, inflicted by Ndlovu in January when he raped her. Her grandmother made a police report and the girl was taken to hospital.” by Thandeka Moyo.