Life in jail for 81-year-old’s rape, murder

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Published Feb 4, 2014

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Nelspruit - A Mpumalanga man was jailed for life on Tuesday for raping and strangling an 81-year-old woman.

Alex Sidumo, 34, originally from Mozambique, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court in Johannesburg, a Sapa correspondent reported. He was arrested on February 20, 2012.

Judge Colin Lamont said though Sidumo had pleaded guilty, he failed to show any remorse.

“I was supposed to give you a minimum sentence but because you didn't show any remorse when raping, strangling and killing the old woman, who was very helpless, I am sentencing you to life imprisonment.”

Lamont said DNA tests linked Sidumo to the victim, Elisa Nokufa Mashele.

Prosecutor Thembeni Maenga told the court it was not the first time Sidumo had been in trouble with the law. She said he was found guilty of theft in 2007 after breaking into a house on November 7

that year.

“The accused was sentenced to four months imprisonment with a fine of R1 000, suspended for four years,” said Maenga.

She said he had no respect for life.

“Your wife was heavily pregnant when you left her at night and went to commit this crime. We don't know the reason why you raped and killed like this,” said Maenga.

Documents presented in court showed that Sidumo was married with three children, aged between three and six.

Sidumo's wife, Delsie Fakude, 24, said outside court that she was happy that “the monster” was sent to prison.

“He is a monster, a dog. Let him rot in jail,” she said.

Sapa

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