EMAXESIBENI COURT ORDERS RAPE AND EYE GAUGING ACCUSED TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY
"But communities want him out so they can gouge out his eyes to feel the pain he inflicted on a 15 year old Cabazana girl"
A close relative of the 15 year old Cabazana rape victim in Mt Ayliff, wanted police to release the accused so that the community can also do what he did to her cousin. This was said by Nomalizo Ntunta, a cousin to Zandiswa Ntshamba 15 who was raped and her eyes gouged out by her attacker, on Good Friday. Ntunta was addressing the media after the first court appearance of the rape accused on Monday. “I wanted the police to release him so that we can also remove his eyes, a pain that he caused to my cousin. I don’t want him to die I want him to feel the pain that he inflicted on my cousin”, Ntunta said.
Chairperson of the Men’s Forum under Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Mzuvumile Jojo, appealed to government to strengthen the law, warning that communities are going to take the law into their own hands. “We are pleased by the fact that the accused is behind bars but government must strengthen the law otherwise communities are ready to deal with criminals”, he said.
Velisani Mngani 23, appeared for the first time before the Mt Ayliff magistrate court on Monday accused of rape and assault GBH. During his appearance the NPA changed the charges to rape and attempted murder. He was not asked to plead and the case was remanded to the 5th of may for formal bail application.
In an interview Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson, Luxolo Tyhali said the gravity of the case necessitated the NPA to change the charges of Assault GBH and Rape given to the accused by police to Rape and Attempted murder. He said the state is opposing bail. “Mount Ayliff has got the high rate of rape and killing of women. It is for that reason that we conducting an awareness campaign about the issue and Mt Ayliff is one of our target areas”, said Tyali.
In an interview Umzimvubu Local Municipality Mayor Zukiswa Ndevu voiced disappointment about the accused person who according to her is showing no remorse about the allegations. Cllr Ndevu is also concerned about the involvement of young people in case of this nature.
EmaXesibeni police arrested Mngani on Friday following a weeklong investigation after the incident happened on a Good Friday. It is alleged that Mngani used knife and sticks to gouge out Mtshamba ‘s eyes. Mtshamba is still at Umthatha hospital.
