Mbombela - An Mpumalanga man found guilty of rape, armed robbery and attempted murder was sentenced to 30 years in jail by the Nelspruit Regional Court on Friday.
“Count one, four and five of robbery will be combined into one sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. On count two of rape you are sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and on count three of attempted murder you are sentenced to eight years,” Magistrate Willie Wilkens told the convict, according to a Sapa correspondent.
Wilkens said the 15-year sentence for count one, four and five would run concurrently with the eight-year sentence for count three.
Siboniso Sithole, 28, from Mgobodzi near Malalane, would serve an effective 30 years in jail.
Sithole was arrested in Block A near Komatipoort on August 28, 2010.
He broke into a home, tied the man up at gunpoint, robbed him of R270 and raped his wife.
“You entered into the house and robbed them at gunpoint. What is hurting is that they lost their money. Even if the money was not that much, to them it was worth a lot. They feared a lot after you pointed a gun at them.
“You did not end there but you raped the woman. The victim told the court that even when she sleeps she sees you,” said Wilkens.
Sithole also faced an attempted murder case after shooting his friend Sipho Mkhabela in the shoulder on June 17, 2010.
He faced four separate charges of robbery but was acquitted on one.
Sapa