BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Two men from Lupane have been convicted and sentenced for sexual crimes against minors, according to the National Prosecuting Authority.
In the first case, a 26-year-old man from Jotsholo was found guilty on three counts, including indecent assault and rape.
The accused had been left in charge of his two nieces, aged 12 and 9, in March.
He fondled their breasts and caressed their privates, threatening to harm them if they spoke out. Later that month, he raped the 12-year-old.
The abuse came to light in May when the girl confided in her aunt, leading to the accused’s arrest.
He was sentenced to 12 months for the indecent assault charges and 20 years for the rape charge.
In a separate case, a 33-year-old man from the same district was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl.
According to the state, on June 10, the accused found the girl alone at home, dragged her to a nearby bush, and raped her, threatening to harm her if she reported the incident. The girl confided in her mother, leading to the accused’s arrest.