Durban - A 26-year-old man pleaded guilty on Wednesday in the Verulam Regional Court to raping two young women and a 10-year-old boy.
Mzwakhe Sithole was linked to the crimes, which occurred in 2012, by his DNA after his arrest for another rape in 2013.
Wearing wrist and ankle shackles, Sithole was escorted into the courtroom by correctional services officers from Qalakabusha Prison in Empangeni where he is being held.
Prosecutor Kaystree Ramsamujh read out the charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, housebreaking with intent to steal and rape, to the court.
Magistrate Jenny Pillay had asked Sithole if he understood he could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment should he be convicted.
Sithole told the court he understood and his attorney, Vasantha Naidoo, read out his plea.
On March 29, 2012, Sithole was walking with a friend through Mount Moreland when they saw a man and woman walking together.
“My friend suggested that we rob them of their possessions and I agreed. As we approached them, my friend drew his firearm and I took out a knife from my pocket,” he said.
Pointing the weapons at the pair, they demanded the woman’s possessions and the man had then run away. After stealing from the young woman, Sithole and his friend took turns to rape her.
On June 22, 2012, Sithole said he was walking in the Hazelmere area and saw a 10-year-old boy walking close to the road. He approached him and demanded money, but the boy did not have any money on him. He then dragged the boy into a bush and raped him.
He was in the Cottonlands area on September 6, 2012, when he noticed an open window at one of the houses.
He forced open the window, climbed in and saw a woman sleeping in the dining room. He stole her cellphone.
“While she was asleep, I began to touch her. She awoke and when she saw me she began to scream. I held a knife to her and told her not to scream. She obeyed my instruction.”
He told her to go to the bedroom where he then raped her.
“I admit that I knew what I was doing was wrongful and unlawful at the time of my committing the offence and I have no defence in law for my actions,” he said.
Ramsamujh handed over medical reports of all three rape survivors and said there was DNA evidence linking Sithole to the crimes.
The magistrate accepted his plea and adjourned the matter until August 25 for sentencing.
Daily News