The Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Ntabankulu has sentenced a 23-year-old man to an effective 30 years in prison for the rape of a 16-year-old girl.
The court also heard that Velisani Mngani gouged out the eyes of the teenager, leaving her permanently blind.
Mngani was also handed a 13-year sentence for robbery, eight years for attempted murder and five years for kidnapping.
All the sentences will run concurrently with the 30 years for rape.
NPA spokesperson Luxulo Tyali said Mngani entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state.
In his plea explanation, he admitted that on 15 April 2022 he was walking in a forest in the Cabazana area of EmaXesibeni, formerly Mount Ayliff, when he saw the schoolgirl walking alone.
He ambushed her, dragged her deep into the forest and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
"The victim fought back, beating him on his body and fingers but he overpowered her," Tyali said.
"After raping her, Mngani said he decided to kill her to avoid being identified as they come from the same locality. He strangled her with his hands and used a blunt object, stabbed her, poked her eyes out and left her for dead."
The case was postponed several times, as Mngani had to be taken for psychiatric evaluation which confirmed that he was fit to stand trial and could appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
Arguing for an appropriate sentence, state advocate Chumile Mkentane stated that the victim was now dependent on assistance from her family members in almost everything and had to be moved to a school for people living with disabilities in Pretoria
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo commended the prosecutor and the investigating team for ensuring that justice is seen to be done for the vulnerable and defenseless in society.
