A 29-year-old man from Mathe Line in Tshotsholo, Matabeleland North Province, allegedly raped a 92-year-old woman multiple times.
The attack reportedly occurred from 10 PM until 4 AM the next day. The suspect fled before dawn, leaving his underwear behind.
In a telephone interview with B-Metro, a villager, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, called for swift action from authorities to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice. Said the villager:
This despicable act of violence against a vulnerable member of our community must be met with the full force of our commitment to justice.
The rape of an elderly woman is not only a crime against an individual but also a deeply disturbing assault on our society’s values and sense of safety.
It is the State’s case that on the night of 5 August 2024, around 10 PM, the 92-year-old woman was sleeping in her bedroom hut when Meluleki Ngwenya (29) allegedly entered through an unlocked door.
Ngwenya reportedly threatened to assault her if she refused to let him join her in bed. He then allegedly raped her multiple times throughout the night, leaving around 4 AM and abandoning his underwear at the scene.
The victim reported the incident to her sister, who accompanied her to the police. Following an investigation, Ngwenya was arrested.
Ngwenya appeared before Tsholotsho magistrate Lesigo Ngwenya, where he was remanded in custody without entering a plea. He was scheduled to appear at the Bulawayo Regional Court on Friday, 23 August 2024.
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