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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A DARING Tsholotsho rapist who dragged his breastfeeding victim from her ailing father, force -marched her to his place before raping her several times, has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in jail. Simbali Tshuma, 24, threatened six villagers including the village head who tried to save the 19-year-old woman after he was seen dragging her away.

Tshuma locked up the woman and raped her several times throughout the night before sending her back to her ailing father.
Regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere said he was disgusted by Tshuma’s behaviour which showed he had no human feelings.

“You’re clearly a danger to society and you should therefore be removed from society for a long period,” said magistrate Mberewere.
He sentenced him to 35 years imprisonment but suspended five years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecuting Trust Muduma said on June 6, 2015 at around 5PM, the woman was on her way home from Lulwane Stadium when she met Tshuma.
“Tshuma threatened to assault her with a knobkerrie and she sought refuge at a villager’s home. He followed her and threatened the villager with death and she immediately released Tshuma’s victim,” said Muduma.

He then force-marched the woman towards his homestead, but she escaped and entered another villager’s homestead.
“Tshuma broke into the house and held on to the woman’s T- shirt tearing it in the process. The owner of the homestead screamed for help and Tshuma threatened to assault both women if they continued screaming.”

Muduma told the court that Tshuma assaulted the woman and led her to his friend’s homestead nearby.
“A few minutes after, the girl’s father arrived in the company of three elderly men and begged him to release his daughter but Tshuma threatened to manhandle them. Tshuma thereafter force-marched the complainant to his homestead where he raped her several times and released her the following morning,” he said.

On June 13, Tshuma again took the woman away from her father at around 12.45AM and force-marched her to his homestead where he raped her again before releasing her the following morning.
The rape was reported to the police leading to Tshuma’s arrest.