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The East London Regional Court has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for a 2010 gang-rape case that traumatized several women and children in Engcobo Village, Stutterheim. The sentencing comes more than 15 years after the attacks, which took place during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The convicted men are Sivuyile Mbondela (41), Sisanele Hletyiwe (36) and Thanduxolo Kedama (47). Their co-accused, Sandile Mbondela, died before the start of the trial.
In addition to the life terms, the court imposed:
- 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances
- 5 years for housebreaking with intent to commit rape
- An extra 20 years for Mbondela for unlawful firearm and ammunition possession
All sentences will run concurrently. The men were also declared unfit to possess firearms, and their names will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Long Road to Justice
The attack involved several victims across different homes in the village. The survivors, including minors, were threatened at gunpoint, robbed, and sexually violated. Due to darkness at the time of the crime, the victims were unable to identify the attackers immediately.
Police traced the perpetrators through detailed investigative work, which included recovering stolen cellphones and linking DNA evidence to the accused. One suspect was arrested at a local farm after attempting to flee and dropping the firearm used in the crime.
The case was initially withdrawn due to delayed forensic results. After DNA confirmation, it was re-enrolled in 2014.
The accused then attempted to delay proceedings by frequently changing legal representatives, missing court dates, and producing questionable medical notes. Two of the men were later rearrested in 2022 in an unrelated matter, allowing the case to move forward.
Impact on Survivors
During sentencing, the court heard emotional victim-impact statements from the survivors. The testimonies showed the severe, long-term psychological and social harm caused by the attack. One survivor suffered a mental breakdown due to the trauma.
The State has requested counselling and support interventions for all affected families.
NPA Welcomes the Outcome
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Barry Madolo, welcomed the ruling and praised State Advocate Vuyokazi Sam for her perseverance over many years.
He said the sentence reaffirms the National Prosecuting Authority’s commitment to delivering justice in gender-based violence cases, even when cases face major delays and disruptions.
