Durban - A 57-year-old Greytown man has been convicted and sentenced for the rape, sexual assault and kidnapping of an 18-year-old girl whom he had “married”.
The police said the 18-year-old had been forced into a marriage with the man from her church. The marriage was arranged by the girl’s aunt who also received payment.
The man is not being named to protect the identity of the teenager.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said that between February and July 2019, after the arranged marriage, the aunt would allow the man to come to her house and rape the teen and when the girl complained she was told that traditionally she belonged to the man.
Ngcobo said the teen, who is an orphan, twice tried to commit suicide and also attempted to run away.
“She decided to run away from her aunt’s house, but the man was well connected. He hired two men to track down his victim. She was caught and taken to the accused’s house in Greytown where she was expected to continue with her marital duties.
“He attempted to rape her and she fought back. She was taken to Matimatolo where she was handcuffed and raped repeatedly.
“She was kept in a room for months and the community became suspicious when they heard her crying whenever this man was around. Police were alerted and they responded swiftly.”
Ngcobo said the teenager was rescued and charges of rape, sexual assault as well as kidnapping were opened. The matter was investigated by the Greytown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
In August 2019, the man handed himself over to the Greytown FCS Unit where he was arrested.
“He made several court appearances before he was sentence to life imprisonment for rape, 12 years for sexual assault and an additional five years for kidnapping.”