ELUKWATINI- A 60 year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was sentenced for the rape of a teenager.
In 2019, Petros Mkhatshwa who resided in the same yard as his 13 year-old victim repeatedly raped her between April and October.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on one occasion Mkhatshwa he entered her bedroom wielding a sjambok, demanding she become his second wife and bear his children. When she refused, he assaulted her with the sjambok and raped her. The abuse came to light when the victim’s school noticed her absence from classes and dispatched social workers to her home. During their visit, the victim bravely disclosed the rape ordeal, prompting a police investigation that led to Mkhatshwa’s arrest.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming the victim seduced him. State Prosecutor Matladi Malapane presented a compelling case, supported by the victim’s credible testimony, a social worker’s report, and a J88 medical report confirming penetration. A Victim Impact Statement, compiled with Court Preparation Officer, Nondumiso Thwala, detailed the victim’s severe psychological trauma and ongoing fear since the assaults. The court found the state’s witnesses reliable, rejecting Mkhatshwa’s defense as baseless and affirming the gravity of his actions.
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In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Malapane argued that Mkhatshwa exploited his authority as a neighbour and elder, betraying the victim’s trust and violating her safety in her own home.
The court also ordered Mkhatshwa’s inclusion on the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared him unfit to possess a firearm, and deemed him unsuitable to work with children. This landmark conviction underscores the NPA’s unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and delivering justice for vulnerable children.
