Rapist kept women locked up for months
A KZN rapist who imprisoned some of his victims for months has been sentenced to five life terms plus 38 years.
|||Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal rapist who imprisoned some of his victims for months has been sentenced to five life terms plus 38 years, after being convicted of multiple counts of rape, kidnapping, fraud and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Pietermaritzburg Regional Court Magistrate Chris van Vuuren sentenced 42-year-old Wonder Njabulo Myeni on Wednesday, describing him as devoid of remorse or emotion,
Myeni was found guilty of terrorising and manipulating young women in Pietermaritzburg between November 2009 and April 2012.
He lured the unsuspecting women by offering employment at the local municipality, and received money from some of his victims in return for the promise of employment.
On some occasions, Myeni impersonated a police officer to lure his victims to their sordid fates.
The court heard evidence during Myeni’s trial from all five of his victims, who relived their physical and emotional horror at his hands.
Some of his victims were locked in a room for several months and made to perform lurid sexual acts at Myeni’s bidding.
When they resisted, they were beaten and abused.
In some instances, Myeni threatened them with physical violence, death, witchcraft and even burned the women’s clothing and photographs of their children.
Myeni pleaded not guilty to all counts, claiming he had consensual sex with all the women.
However, Van Vuuren rejected his defence in totality, and found that while the women may have been naïve and, in some cases, not of great intellect, they were all honest and credible.
“These women were manipulated and became entrapped in Myeni’s web of deceit,” the magistrate said, adding that Myeni’s attitude and lack of remorse was beyond comprehension.
“These women were degraded and humiliated at the hands of a manipulative, cruel bully. Rape is a particularly horrendous crime that not only involves the invasion of a woman’s body, but her mind and soul. Women are precious assets to our society and each deserve to be respected and protected,” Van Vuuren said.
“You have shown not an inkling of remorse. Your fanciful response to the allegations against you were sometimes startling, and it is clear you were motivated by greed, lust and sheer malice. You went about your sordid business in such a brazen manner you gave the impression that women were cattle to bend to your will,” the magistrate said, adding that Myeni was a danger to society and women in general.
Myeni sat in the dock, and at times appeared to be falling asleep.
When he was sentenced, he stood up, smiled broadly and thanked Van Vuuren before being led down to the cells.
Daily News