A 32-year-old Zimbabwean national, Mulero Nyangero, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and robbing a woman who was jogging on Kloof Street in Pretoria West, South Africa. The incident occurred in August 2020, when Nyangero and two other men ambushed the victim, dragging her into the bushes where she was subjected to a horrific ordeal.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nyangero raped the victim while his accomplices assaulted her and threatened her with a knife. The attackers forced the victim to transfer money to them via cellphone banking before fleeing the scene. Miraculously, the victim managed to untie herself and ran to the road, where a passing motorist gave her a lift to safety.
Nyangero was arrested months later at a tavern in Pretoria West and has been in custody since February 2021. Despite pleading not guilty, the court found him guilty of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Nyangero’s defense team asked the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, citing his family responsibilities. However, the prosecutor, Advocate Chester Molaba, argued that Nyangero showed no remorse for his crimes.
Magistrate Themba Ndwandwe agreed with the prosecution, stating that Nyangero’s lack of remorse and the inhumane nature of the crime warranted the maximum sentence. Nyangero was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and five years’ imprisonment for robbery, to run concurrently. The sentence serves as a reminder that justice can be served, even years after the traumatic event.
source-cite.org.zw
