A rapist has received three life-terms – and an additional 50 years – for his four-year-long reign of terror, during which time he raped five girls and murdered one.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said in a statement that between 2011 and 2015, five young female victims aged between eight and 17 were attacked by Sibusiso Innocent Mpisane.
Mpisane, he said, used areas like Margate, Port Shepstone and Port Edward as his hunting ground where he raped young girls and, in one instance, went as far as killing his victim, who was eight years old at the time.
“Sadly, he killed her because he feared that she might expose him.”
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Zwane said the first incident took place in Margate in December 2011, where the 17-year-old victim was collecting firewood when she was approached by Mpisane who instructed her to leave with him.
“He led her to (an isolated) area where he raped her. The second reported incident was in Margate in the sugarcane fields. The victim met him at Marburg.
He struck up a conversation with her (telling her he knew) about a job opportunity in Margate.”
Lured by the prospect of employment, said Zwane, the victim boarded a taxi with Mpisane to Margate.
“The duo jumped off and started walking further away from the residential area. Surrounded by sugar cane fields, the victim asked Mpisane about the estimated arrival time to their destination.”
Sibusiso Innocent Mpisane was eventually linked to the crimes through DNA evidence. File Picture: Independent Media
He said he had lost his way and instructed her to walk ahead of him.
A few steps later, he grabbed her around the neck and raped her.
She protested but he threatened to kill and burn her.
“After he had finished, he gave her R10 to board a taxi."
The victim went to the police station where she reported the matter and necessary procedures were followed.”
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The next incident took place in October 2013.
A pair of siblings from Nzimakwe location – aged six and nine –were doing laundry in the nearby river when Mpisane spotted them and instructed them to accompany him.
“The young girls followed him and the route went through the bushes where he raped both girls.
A case of rape was opened at Port Edward police station and necessary samples were taken from both the victims. “
In January 2015, in Louisiana a 13-year-old female was walking in a bushy area when Sibusiso accosted her and raped her.
The last reported incident was that of the eight-year-old who stayed with her mother at Nzimakwe location.
In January 2014, she was returning home from a visit to her father’s home when she was approached by Mpisane.
The child was reported missing to the Port Edward police station.
“During preliminary investigations, it was discovered that (he) was the last one seen with the child.
The badly decomposed body of the child was only found in July 2014 in the sugarcane fields.”
Mpisane even attended her funeral.
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He was eventually linked to the crimes through DNA evidence.
“To the surprise of the detectives, (he) co-operated and agreed to do a pointing out of all the scenes. He said that he took the victim to his place where he kept her overnight.
The next morning, he took her to the sugarcane fields where he raped and killed her.”
The matter was first heard at Ramsgate High Court and later moved to the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Mpisane was sentenced to three life terms and a further 50 years for five counts of rape and one count of murder on Monday.
The life sentences were ordered to be served concurrent with the 50 years.