• Parolee Sphiwe Isaac Makula received 25 years in prison for raping a 19-year-old woman in Duduza, with his name added to the sexual offenders registry.
• The court dismissed leniency appeals, citing his prior conviction for rape, declaring him a danger to society and unfit for rehabilitation.

A 27-year-old parolee, Sphiwe Isaac Makula, has been sentenced to 25 years of direct imprisonment for the rape of a 19-year-old woman in Duduza.

The court ordered that Makula be declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name be added to the national registry for sexual offenders.

In the early hours of 11 March 2022, the victim was on her way home from a friend’s place when she was accosted by Makula.

He grabbed her and forced her to the nearby bushes where he continued to rape her before fleeing the scene.

NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the victim received a lift by a concerned resident to the Duduza Police Station where she reported the matter.

“The suspect was subsequently arrested on 24 November 2022 at his residence and has been in police custody since.”

During the court trial, Makula pleaded not guilty to the charge; however the state was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he indeed committed the crime.

He further, through his lawyer, asked the court to consider the two years he spent in prison awaiting the finalisation of the trial when imposing a sentence.

“The state prosecutor, Phumulani Nkalanga blocked the request arguing that Makula was not a first-time offender as he committed a similar offense while on parole for a rape he was convicted of in 2011.

“He further asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence arguing that the seriousness of the crime, coupled with no compelling and substantial circumstances, warranted no lesser punishment,” she said.

Handing down the sentence, Magistrate Juan Voogt agreed with the state adding that Makula could not be rehabilitated because he was previously sentenced for a similar offence.

“Makula is a danger to society, especially for women; therefore it is in the interest of justice to remove him from society.

“I could not find substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence,” he said.

Pictured above: Court gavel.

Source: Supplied