Man Sentenced To Life For Rape, Crime Spree In Durban

Rapist Siyabonga Cele, 23, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ntuzuma Regional Court for his involvement in a hijacking, rape and subsequent crime spree in Inanda, north of Durban, in 2022.

The court heard that Cele and his accomplices hijacked a metered taxi while the driver was dropping off a passenger. They then kidnapped a woman walking along the road, raped her and withdrew money from her bank account at an ATM.

While at the ATM, the group was spotted by police, leading to a shootout. Cele and his accomplices attempted to flee in the stolen car but crashed during their escape.

National Prosecuting Authority NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says, "Cele was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 5 years imprisonment for attempted murder, and 5 years imprisonment for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in the effective sentence of life imprisonment."

The court also declared Cele unfit to possess a firearm and ordered his details to be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.