Durban - A rapist has been convicted and sentenced to four life terms and an additional six years for kidnapping in KwaZulu-Natal, provincial police reported on Friday.
“The KwaDukuza Regional Court convicted and sentenced 34-year-old Selvan Govender to four terms of life imprisonment for rape and six years for kidnapping,” said KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker.
Govender was convicted and sentenced on Wednesday for the rape and kidnapping of two teenage girls in Umhlali, outside of Durban.
In the first incident, on the morning of April 3, 2009, Govender approached a 19-year-old victim who was home alone and promised employment.
The girl left for the bogus interview and while en route, Govender dragged her to a nearby sugarcane field, repeatedly raping her at knifepoint until the afternoon.
“The victim managed to escape and reported the matter to the police,” said Naicker.
In the second incident on May 5, 2009, Govender approached a 17-year-old girl.
He invited the victim to accompany him home and again, while en route, Govender dragged the girl into a nearby sugarcane field, raping her repeatedly until the late afternoon.
Once reported, KwaDukuza South African Police Service (SAPS) opened charges of rape and kidnapping.
KwaDukuza Family violence, Child protection and Sexual offence (FCS) Unit took over the investigation which led to the arrest of Govender.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, welcomed the sentence and congratulated the SAPS FCS: “The SAPS will continue to ensure perpetrators are locked behind bars for a very long time. Rapists should not be living in our communities.”
ANA