Metro

South African court sentences serial rapist, kidnapper to seven life imprisonment

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2023

A 40-year-old serial rapist and kidnapper, Elvis Aaron Zulu, has been sentenced to seven life imprisonment sentences and a further 83 years term by a court in the Mpumalanga district after he was found guilty of abducting several women and raping them at gunpoint.

According to court documents, the Daantjie man had “spent three years kidnapping and raping women at gunpoint at graveyards, abandoned buildings and a church yard.”

In sentencing the convict, Judge Takalane Ratshivhumo told the court that the accused failed to show remorse to the victims for his actions.

Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyuswa, said between January 2011 and November 2014, Zulu raped at least nine women, one of them who was a minor.

“The accused would target his victims at gunpoint, take them to a nearby house and rape them. He would sometimes take his victims to a nearby graveyard, rape them and rob them of their belongings like cellphones and cash. These crimes were carried out in Pienaar, in the KwaBokweni district,” said Nyuswa.

The NPA said three other victims were gang raped by the accused and his accomplices.

“In one of the incidents on January 30, 2011, a 38-year-old woman was on her way to the shop when Zulu approached and and started speaking to her.”

“While they were talking, he grabbed her at a nearby abandoned house at gunpoint and raped her more than once. Zulu released the victim the following day and gave her taxi fare to travel back home,” Nyuswa said.

“In another incident, 10 months later, a woman was at the Msogwaba cemetery when the accused and his co-perpetrator emerged. Brandishing a knife and a firearm, the men laid the woman on a grave and gang-raped her on a tombstone.

“The accused’s rape spree came to light in November 2014, after he and his accomplices accosted another victim at Pienaar. They took a victim’s cellphone and dragged her to Hope of the Nations Ministry Church and raped her taking turns.”

“The accused was arrested after one of the victims was able to identify him to the police. Buccal swabs were taken and positively linked him with other rape cases. He pleaded not guilty in court and claimed consent from the victim who identified him,“ Nyuswa added.

She said evidence in the form of the women’s testimonies, was led by State advocate Tshepo Mahasha along with DNA evidence linking Zulu to the rapes and victim impact statements.

Click to comment

Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.