Man receives life sentence for raping a relative

A 49-year-old man accused of repeatedly raping and attempting to murder his relative was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Durban Magistrates’ Court this week. Selby Nolakhe Xulu showed no emotion as he appeared before the V Court for sentencing on Tuesday, 12 June 2024.

The father of four was arrested by Sydenham SAPS in August 2022 after he shot and later raped the victim twice in what he said was an intoxicated state. On Thursday, June 6, Xulu was found guilty of two counts of rape and attempted murder.

ALSO READ: Child raped by man known to her family

During the court hearing on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Cheryl Pillay read the victim’s statement, in which the court heard that the victim in this case had struggled to cope with the emotional and psychological scars of the ordeal.

Pillay said the young woman, who is in her twenties, is now suffering from flashbacks of the incident. She said her life will never be the same again. In her victim impact statement, the woman further said that Xulu was a violent person who had attacked her on several occasions.

Lawyer Pillay urged the court to send a clear message that such a crime will never be the norm in society. During the verdict, Judge Queen Khuzwayo said the plaintiff’s version had been confirmed by many independent people, making it unlikely that she was lying.

ALSO READ: Man convicted of raping mentally and physically disabled boy

The court also heard that Xulu allegedly performed a virginity test on the victim when he raped her. Khuzwayo said the victim impact statement exposed a broken girl whose future was in tatters. Xulu received two life sentences for the two counts of rape and 15 years for attempted murder, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

His details will be entered on the sex offenders’ register and he has been deemed unsuitable to work with children. The 49-year-old has the right to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court within 21 days.