Three life sentences plus 100 years for serial rapist from Etwaswa

Simphiwe Gift Siyaya (31) from Etwaswa was recently sentenced to three life sentences and 100 years in prison by the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.

He received this sentence for six counts of rape, five counts of kidnapping and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

According to District Communications Officer Captain Neldah Sekgobela, Siyaya had targeted young women in various areas of Ekurhuleni.

The court heard that on July 10, 2017, a 29-year-old woman was at a local tavern with a friend when they met Siyaya, who was also there with his friends.

“Siyaya tried to reason with the 29-year-old, but she ignored him. Siyaya threatened to stab her with a knife as he forcibly took her to his residence where he raped her.”

He also raped another victim, a 20-year-old woman from Etwaswa, in his room.

On November 9, 2018, a 27-year-old woman was sitting in a car with her friend and her two-year-old child on the grounds of Daveyton Golf Club when three unknown men approached them. The men got into the vehicle with them and later left the grounds.

“According to the woman, Siyaya forcibly dragged her into the bushes while pointing a gun at her and raped her. Siyaya apparently called his friend and they took turns raping her.

“When they finished, the woman discovered that her vehicle had been stolen with her two-year-old child inside. She went to the police station and on the way there she found her child abandoned on the road,” Sekgobela said.

Sekgobela said all files had been handed over to Detective Sergeant Kaizer Koantle Mbele, who conducted a thorough investigation.
Major General Anna Sithole, Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, praised Mbele for securing the long prison sentence.

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