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Philani Mabasa (28), who was staying at the Amphitheatre where the traditional dance group was based for rehearsals when the offence was committed, pleaded not guilty to three counts of raping the 20-year-old woman.

Senior Western Division regional magistrate Mr Owen Tagu convicted Mabasa due to overwhelming evidence and sentenced him to an effective 20 years.

On 4 January, the group was rehearsing at the Amphitheatre and at about 4pm, the woman’s husband went to the city centre leaving his wife in their room.

Mabasa went to the woman’s room and asked for a pen but the woman told him to wait for her husband to return from town.

The woman was standing at the door and Mabasa pushed her inside and locked the door.

He raped her twice and threatened to stab her with a screwdriver if she screamed.

After some time Mabasa raped  the woman for the third time and left after threatening her with death if she told anyone about the issue.

The woman however, reported the rape to her husband who then accompanied her to make a report to the police.

Mr Admire Chikwayi prosecuted.