By Zukile Majova & Anita Dangazele
She fought tooth and nail and lost both her eyes when her attacker raped her on Good Friday in 2022.
And this week, a 16-year-old finally received justice through the courts.
Scrolla.Africa broke the story of her ordeal.
The Tabankulu High Court found her attacker, Velisani Mngani, guilty of rape and sentenced him to 30 years in jail.
The 23-year-old was also charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and attempted murder.
Zandiswa left home on Good Friday to visit her friend in a nearby village of Cabazana outside Mt Ayliff, but she did not make it back home.
Her way home passes by a natural forest and she says she was passing this forest when a man attacked her and forced her into the forest where he raped her several times.
He was beating her up, choking her and threatening to kill her in an ordeal that lasted for hours.
The rapist left the student from Phepheni High School thinking she was dead but she was able to crawl out of the forest into the road where a passing car was able to pick her up and take her home.
Provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said Mngani admitted to the crime as he did not want to prolong the case.
“He admitted to dragging her deep into the forest and repeatedly raping her. The victim fought back, beating him on his body and fingers but he overpowered her,” Tyali said.
Mngani was sentenced to 30 years for rape, 13 years for robbery, eight years for attempted murder and five years for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently.
Responding to the 30-year jail term for her attacker, Zandiswa removed her sunglasses to reveal her lifelong scars and said: “I will never forgive the person who did this to me.”
The incident changed Zandiswa’s life as she had to leave her school, but education authorities have since enrolled her in a school for the blind in Pretoria to study using Braille.
The victim’s father said 30 years behind bars was not enough considering how his daughter’s life has been damaged.
“My daughter will never be able to see again but he will continue with his life behind bars. I wish they had locked him away for life,” he said.
Petros Majova, a child rights activist from the Khula Community Project, said the young woman and her family were pleased that justice has been served.
Outraged community members and the church protested outside the court demanding justice for Zandiswa.
Pictured above: Villagers from around EmaXesibeni town marched to court to demand justice for Zandiswa.
Image source: Supplied
