Heartless and devoid of empathy. That's how victims described a 29-year-old man convicted of a series of home invasions and sexual assaults.
This week, the justice system wasted no time in sending a strong message to potential wrongdoers by sentencing Thokozani Mabuza to two life sentences and an additional 90 years behind bars.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), revealed that Mabuza was found guilty of a series of crimes, including rapes, attempted sexual assaults during break-ins, robberies, and kidnappings that occurred between March 2014 and May 2017 in the Mtunzini High Court.
These horrifying acts were committed in the Mtunzini and Esikhawini areas, where Mabuza targeted women. He would forcibly enter their homes, sexually assault them, and steal their belongings, including cash and cellphones.
In one case, he even took a television set.
To terrorize his victims, Mabuza used weapons such as knives or firearms to instill fear. He also targeted women while they were out walking, coercing them into accompanying him to secluded locations like forests or properties, where he subjected them to sexual assaults.
Eventually, DNA evidence led to Mabuza's arrest. State advocate Dan Magwaza presented the testimony of the women, their initial reports, medical evidence, and the arresting officer's account during the trial.
All the victims shared their ongoing fear and the loss of self-esteem resulting from the traumatic incidents.
One woman mentioned losing her job, and her husband left her because he couldn't cope with what had happened.
Another survivor expressed a deep fear of men, describing Mabuza as heartless and emotionless, likening her ordeal to an attack by a wild animal.
In another news, a man from New Orleans who faced murder charges for a brutal attack on an elderly man has reached a plea deal. Martin Hurtado, 30, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and agreed to a maximum 40-year prison sentence. See detailed story here.
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