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A 13-year-old rape survivor has finally received justice after both perpetrators were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) detective, Sergeant Thandi Nkanyani, ensured justice was served for the young girl who was raped on numerous occasions by two different family members whom she had trusted.
First Case: Neighbor Convicted
The first incidents occurred in August 2015 during Women’s Month. The victim, who was just entering her teens, was sent by her mother to a neighbor’s house to invite Mr. Solomon Ncinci Dlamini (51) for supper.
When the victim arrived, she found the accused bathing, at which point he raped her and threatened her not to tell anyone about what had happened.
On a second occasion, Mr. Dlamini went uninvited to the victim’s home, found her alone, and raped her again. The victim remained silent about both incidents for years.
The crimes only came to light in 2018 when the victim’s stepfather was helping her with homework and discovered a letter written by the victim detailing the rapes by the neighbor. The stepfather immediately reported the matter to SAPS Edenpark, resulting in Mr. Dlamini’s arrest and subsequent trial.
Second Case: Betrayal by Stepfather
While the trial against Mr. Dlamini was ongoing, the victim’s stepfather—who had initially been supportive during the proceedings—began to rape the victim, who was by then 16 years old.
The victim’s mother reported this second betrayal to police, who arrested the stepfather. Detective Sergeant Lindelani Dladla was assigned to the case and successfully secured a life sentence against the stepfather.
Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Thandi Nkanyani, who handled the case against neighbor Mr. Dlamini, also secured a life sentence with direct imprisonment. Additionally, Mr. Dlamini was declared unfit to possess firearms under Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
The Station Commander of SAPS Katlehong, Brigadier Albertina Vesi, welcomed the hefty sentences imposed on both accused, stating: “Those who were supposed to protect this child failed her dismally. They do not belong in our society and are now where they belong.”
