By BAKANG MOKOTO
A man (42) was sentenced to 22 years by Kuruman Regional Court for kidnapping and rape. On 18 November 2016 at approximately 10:25pm, Shambi Elias Latha took the victim (25), from a social gathering in Cassel village, near Bothitong, and threatened her with a knife to accompany him to his house.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said Latha locked her in his bedroom and assaulted her with a panga. Kock said the victim was severely beaten and raped several times.
“The accused fell asleep afterwards and the victim managed to escape. She reported the incident to the police and Latha was subsequently arrested two days later.
“He was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for rape and 4 years for kidnapping. As the country celebrates Women’s Month, the police welcome the sentence. The sentences will run concurrently and Latha was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended Detective Captain Caren Nel from the Kuruman Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for her continued selfless contribution to fighting Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the province, especially as the country is celebrating Women’s Month.
The Guardian 