Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to ten years behind bars for raping his eight-year-old niece. The child was visiting her grandmother in Bhucanana on August 23, 2013.
While she was sleeping, her uncle carried her to his bed and raped her, said police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane. The child told her mother and a case of rape was opened at Ntambanana police station.
Her uncle was arrested in March 2015 and his trial was held at the Empangeni Regional Court.
In another incident, on August 17, 2015, the Verulam Magistrate's Court sentenced Michael Benzani Nzama to 24 years behind bars for raping a nine-year-old girl.
On January 6 2015, at about midday, the child was walking with her friends when the suspect grabbed her from behind, pulled her into a partially constructed house and raped her.
The child knew her attacker as they lived on the same road. A woman who was walking past and saw what was happening and raised the alarm.
Neighbours came to the child's rescue and Nzama fled, but was later caught by the community and handed over to police.
The Phoenix Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit took over the investigation, said Zwane. His trial was held in the Verulam Magistrate's Court where he was sentenced to 24 years.
ANA