Themba Prince Shongwe was sentenced by the Secunda Regional Court on Wednesday, 18 December for multiple murders and rape of young girls between 2016 and 2018.
The court heard chilling accounts of Shongwe’s heinous acts, including the rape of a minor who lived to tell the tale.
TIMELINE:
5 June, 2016 : Around 19:30, a girl who was 16 years old at the time was sent to buy some items at a tuck shop in Extension 14, She was then dragged by Shongwe, armed with a knife, to a nearby soccer field where she was robbed of her cell phone then raped.
12 August 2016: Nokulunga Nkutha, aged 11, came back from school as usual. Her mother returned from work but could not find her child at home. She then went to a certain family, believing that she might have went there, however the girl could not be found. The family then started searching for her at a friend’s place but also without any success. It was at this point when the girl was reported missing. Sadly, she was murdered and her body was discovered the next day.
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28 June 2017: Cynthia Masilela, aged 16 was on her way home that evening where she was accompanied by her female friend. Cynthia was then left by her friend, next to her grandmother’s place but she did not make it home. The next day, her body was discovered by a security guard next to the municipality offices.
7 May 2018: Lerato Nkutha (11) returned from school and changed her uniform before going to play with her friends. When she did not return home that evening, her family, together with some residents conducted a search party but could not locate her. She was found next to a hair salon in Extension 17 three days later.
7 November 2018: Mihle Philisiwe Zinganto ( 11) had accompanied her aunt during the day to a hair salon. When she got hungry she went home to eat leaving her aunt at the salon. When the aunt was done, she went home later that evening, only to discover that her niece never arrived home. She was reported missing and her body was discovered on the street a few days later. field.
The investigation led to the arrest of Shongwe who was found guilty on five counts of rape as well as four counts of murder hence he was sentenced.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi applauded the team of investigators, the prosecution team as well as the Judiciary which culminated into a well-deserved sentence to the perpetrator of Gender-Based-Violence.
