Andile Mbele has been sentenced to two life terms behind bars for raping, kidnapping and killing a nine-year-old girl in Hankey in September 2020.
It has been reported that one of the life sentences was for the rape of Aqhama Tom, and the other for her murder. Mbele further received and additional five years for Tom’s kidnapping.
According to the Eastern Cape Police Spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, Mbele led the police to where Tom’s lifeless body was in Weston, Hankey.
The court heard a watertight case presented by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit which led to the conviction and sentencing of Mbele for murder, rape and kidnapping, said Nkohli.
Acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso said the sentencing of Mbele will bring solace to Aqhama’s family and to the community of Hankey even though it never bring back her life.
Nkohli said that the evidence presented by the detectives led to Mbele arrest and conviction.
“The evidence presented by the detectives ranged from forensic to oral evidence, led to the convention and subsequent sentencing of Mbele on Monday the 31st of October 2022”, Nkohli added.
