Serial rapist sentenced to 12 life sentences and 75 years in prison

The Mtubatuba High Court has sentenced Bhekithemba Fanozi Nxumalo (42) to 12 life terms and 75 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to rape and 17 counts of rape committed between July 2012 and April 2021.

The offences were committed in different areas of the King Cetshwayo District, where Nxumalo abused several women, the youngest of whom was 14 years old. In one case, he broke into the plaintiffs’ home and raped them, while other plaintiffs were attacked on their way home or on their way to or from school.

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Nxumalo, who was unknown to all the complainants, threatened the complainants with a gun and raped some of them on more than one occasion. The complainants were taken to the Ngwelezane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) to receive the necessary support. Nxumalo was eventually arrested after the last complainant was able to describe him to community members. They conducted a search and handed him over to the police when they arrested him. The complainant then identified him as her attacker. Nxumalo was also conclusively linked to the offences through DNA evidence.

Regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said: “To enhance the sentence, lawyer Eric Xolani Sindane submitted victim statements compiled by some of the complainants and assisted by court preparation officer Sithembile Cebekhulu.”

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All of them said that they were psychologically traumatized after the incident and were now afraid of being alone. They also mentioned that they had flashbacks of the incident and had sleepless nights. Some of the complainants said that they stopped going to school after the incident because of fear. Nxumalo will serve a life sentence. In addition, the court found him unfit to possess a firearm and his application for leave to appeal was rejected.

“The NPA welcomes this successful prosecution and we commend the work of the Public Prosecution Service and the police. It is our duty to fight for justice on behalf of the victims of crime,” concluded Ramkisson-Kara.