PREMIER MTSHWENI-TSIPANE WELCOMES LIFE SENTENCES IMPOSED ON TWO RAPISTS IN MPUMALANGA

05 February 2023

Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has commended the police and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) following the sentencing of two rapists recently.

The two, Richard Khensile Ndlovu and Sibucesso Cossa, aged between 31 and 33 respectively, have been convicted for separate rape cases, committed between 2016 and 2018.

Cossa has been given two (2) life sentences and a further fifty (50) years in prison, after pleading guilty to seven (7) counts of rape, committed around Tonga in the Nkomazi Local Municipality. One of his victims is a 15 year girl.

Ndlovu has been given a life sentence for raping a 13 year old minor at Masoyi, in the City of Mbombela Local Municipality.

Mtshweni-Tsipane says the two convictions are an outcome of a high level of commitment by the police and the NPA to fight crime, such as Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). “We commend the police and the NPA for ensuring that these criminals rot in jail for their inhumane behaviour. This is victory, not only for the survivors, but also for our fight against GBVF. The conviction is a stern warning that the long arm of the law will catch you, if you dare touch our children and women,” the Premier emphasized.

Although Mpumalanga was cited as the only Province in the country which recorded a decline in contact crime in the last Crime Statistics, which were issued by the Police Minister, Bheki Cele last year, however, Mtshweni-Tsipane warned against a relapse in the fight against GBVF. She says the fight should rather be intensified to make Mpumalanga a no-go zone for rapists and other perpetrators of GBVF.

The Premier expressed sympathy to the victims and their families for enduring pain as a result of the tragedy, and committed government support for them. “None of the victims deserve such inhumane treatment. Government will always stand on their side to protect their Constitutional rights. We further call on our communities to step up the fight against such acts, by reporting them to the police,” Mtshweni-Tsipane stated.

She says police are working twice as hard to investigate such cases thoroughly, to produce similar convictions, for the survivors and their families to have closure.

ENDS...


Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Premier’s Spokesperson: Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 082 967 2138
E-mail: mpolwenis@prem.mpg.gov.za

Provincial Government’s Spokesperson: George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za