Tembisa man sentenced to life for raping and holding partner captive

A 46-year-old Tembisa man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after subjecting his intimate partner to prolonged physical and sexual abuse, including locking her inside their room and repeatedly raping her.

Bhutan Sizwe Mlotshwa was sentenced by the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of rape, attempted murder, kidnapping and contravening the Immigration Act.

He received life imprisonment for rape, 10 years for attempted murder, five years for kidnapping and 12 months for contravening the Immigration Act.

The offences were committed between July 2021 and March 2022 in Tembisa South, where Mlotshwa and the victim lived together as tenants.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the ordeal began after the victim told Mlotshwa that she wanted to visit her family.

An argument followed, during which Mlotshwa assaulted her and locked her inside their room against her will.

He would reportedly leave her locked inside the room when he went to work and threatened to kill her if she sought help.

While she was being held captive, the victim was subjected to repeated physical and sexual abuse.

Evidence presented by State Prosecutor Innocent Baloyi revealed that Mlotshwa repeatedly raped the woman without her consent.

He also allegedly burned her with cigarettes and assaulted her on the head with an iron bar.

The victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg.

Despite repeatedly pleading with Mlotshwa to take her to a doctor, he refused to get her medical assistance.

Her chance to escape eventually came when a witness arrived at the residence looking for Mlotshwa while he was away.

The witness assisted the woman in escaping and seeking help.

The NPA welcomed the sentence, saying violence against women, particularly within intimate relationships, was a serious violation of victims’ dignity, bodily integrity and safety.

“The life sentence imposed in this matter reflects the gravity of the offences and the devastating consequences of gender-based violence,” the NPA said.

The prosecution authority said it remained committed to pursuing perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide and ensuring victims were treated with dignity throughout the criminal justice process.

It added that prosecutors would continue presenting compelling evidence before the courts and advocating for sentences that reflect the seriousness of such crimes.