Download PDFOn a very cold Thursday morning, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Intersex, and Queer+ (LGBTIQ+) community and allies came in full support of a fellow lesbian woman who was kidnaped, raped, and assaulted by the accused Musawenkosi Dladla in 2022.
Ntombi Mkhonto a 44-year-old lesbian woman from Tsakane, ext12, opened a case at the Springs Police Station after her encounter with the accused, Dladla. After many court attendances, on 19 May 2023, Dladla was found guilty of all charges brought against him by the Springs Magistrate Court.
South Africa is the country with the highest rate of Gender-based violence and murder cases, it seems numbers keep rising by the minute. In 2022. Little did Ntombi know that she was going to be a survivor of such an attack.
On 20 July 2023, Ekurhuleni Pride Organizing Committee an LGBTIQ+ organisation that advocates for the rights of all queer people in Ekurhuleni and Macua an organisation working in the mining sector gathered outside the Springs Magistrate Court with placards in support of Mkhonto who was yet to receive any good news.
Character witness statements of the accused were read out in court as he sat down. The 40-year-old father of five Dladla who still showed no remorse, had claimed to be the primary caregiver of his children and a businessman that contributes to the country’s GDP. He stated how this incident traumatized the survivor emotionally and mentally.
After he was asked to stand up as Judge Moloi read out his sentence, Dladla turned to look at the survivor, with intimidating looks. The Judge read out his sentence as he folded his arms throughout the sentencing, the Judge noted that Dladla showed no remorse throughout the trial and still maintained his innocence even after he was found guilty.
“Rapist[s] murder the self-esteem,” stated the Judge, “you used a spade to kidnap her, sexually penetrated her twice without using a condom taking into consideration that you are HIV positive,” said Judge Moloi. The Judge read out the laws in place in South Africa for sentencing for a crime (South African Laws of 1995).
Dladla was given three years for assault with the intention of bodily harm and sentenced to life in prison for rape.
“To think at some point, I wanted to give up and close this case after it looked like it was taking forever, I am glad I had people who supported me including the prosecutor and the social worker. Finally, he got what he deserved,” said Mkhonto.
The audience couldn’t hold their excitement while court was still in session, celebrations continued outside the court and justice was served.
This article was submitted on 30 June 2023. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
