The Madadeni Regional Court sentenced a man to an effective life imprisonment for the rape of a 73-year old.

Sibusiso Gift Zwane (30) from Osizweni in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for the rape of a woman that occurred in November 2017 in the Osizweni area. 

KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramakisson-Kara said that Zwane was sentenced to a further two years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to commit an offence. 

"On the evening of the incident the complainant who was 73 years old at the time was in her house when Zwane broke in. The complainant asked Zwane what he was doing there, but he did not respond and proceeded to rape her. At some point she managed to escape and called her daughter. The complainant and her daughter saw Zwane leaving the complainant's house. The complainant was taken to the police station where a case was registered. She was then taken to the Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical and psycho-social assistance," she said.

Kara said that in court, Prosecutor Cindy Alberts led the testimony of the complainant and her daughter, as well as medical evidence relating to the rape charge. 

"Zwane through his legal representative attempted to cast doubt on the complainant's testimony by saying that her eyesight must be poor due to her age. However, the complainant as able to give details of a scar that looked like a burn mark behind Zwane's ear. She had seen this mark up close when he had raped her." she said.

The court ordered that his name is entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.