CAPE TOWN - A Grabouw serial rapist who preyed on female hitchhikers along the N2 highway has been handed seven life sentences at the Strand regional court.
As the country prepares to raise awareness on gender-based violence and femicide through the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, police in the province welcomed the hefty sentence given to Sinaye Siqhuma.
Siqhuma, aged 29, won his victims’ trust by offering assistance as they hitchhiked, police spokesperson Andrè Traut said.
“He reportedly accompanied three victims aged between 20 and 30, one at a time, during the period of November and December 2018 and after the victims were offered a lift to the Sir Lowry Pass area, he would lure them to a secluded area where he raped them,” Traut said.
A thorough investigation by a South African Police Service detective led to the arrest of Siqhuma towards the end of December 2018.
“The well-prepared case dockets and DNA evidence were presented before court. He was convicted on seven charges of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment on all seven charges. The sentences will be served concurrently and Siqhuma will effectively be confined to a prison cell for life,” Traut said.
Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile commended the investigation and the prosecuting teams for removing the rapist from society, so that women would be spared the trauma of rape.
“As the country enters the 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children period, local communities will be safer with Siqhuma incarcerated," Traut said.
Cape Times