VUYO MKIZE
C ONVICTED rapists and housebreakers Jacinto Chilenge, 26, and Felix Machava, 33, will spend the rest of their lives in jail.
Yesterday’s sentencing brought closure to the thugs’ rape spree that stretched from April 2009 to April last year as they forced their way into the homes of seven Bramfischerville women and raped and terrorised the occupants.
“Rape is a cancer in our society; it destroys the self-respect and dignity of the rape victim,” said Johannesburg High Court Judge Fritz van Oosten as he began sentencing the rapists yesterday.
The judge handed Chilenge and Machava eight life sentences each for the rapes of the women in Bramfischerville and an additional 15 years each for housebreaking and robbery.
Chilenge’s sentences will run concurrently and he will spend a total of 40 years in jail.
Machava, on the other hand, was also sentenced to eight life terms in prison for rape and compelling or causing a person 18 years or older to watch or be in the presence of, or watch, a sexual act.
These sentences will run concurrently.
Machava was slapped with 15 years in jail on each of the six housebreaking charges. The sentences will also run concurrently.
He will spend an additional three years in jail for the possession of firearms and ammunition and another 12 months for trying to escape police custody. He is to spend 44 years in jail.
“The accused have been convicted of a large number of atrocious crimes… over a period of 12 months.
“Seven women became victims of rape – a heinous crime. Their houses were broken into. They were soft targets – defenceless women living in poor conditions,” Judge Van Oosten said.
He found that the actions of both the violent criminals had been premeditated. The crimes had been committed for pure material gain and the humiliation of the women.
“There was more than sufficient time for reflection for both accused, but they didn’t avail themselves of that. The medical report revealed serious gynaecological injuries in the women.
“Serial rapists are labelled as inherently evil… society demands that crimes such as rape be heavily punished.
“The accused showed no remorse for their conduct. In their evidence, they proceeded in denial and false accusations of conspiracies against them.”
The hoodlums’ lawyer, Mzoxolo Bosiki, quickly filed an application for leave to appeal the convictions and sentences, which Judge Van Oosten refused.
There were no shouts of celebration or outward displays of emotion as the three young rape victims walked out of court afterwards.
One of the women summarised her feelings thus: “It’s a relief that this chapter is now closed.”
The woman, who was raped in her shack on November 17, 2009, said: “The sentences are fine, but they won’t bring back who I was before.
“I still live in fear after what happened. I hate the word ‘sorry’ and don’t want to hear it from them.
“All I wanted to hear was that they won’t do that to another human being ever again.”