DNA secures life sentence for man over gang rape

A 26-YEAR-OLD man from Mpuma-langa has been sentenced to life impris-onment in the Belfast Magistrate's Court for the gang rape of a woman.

- ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE

The woman was 40 years old at the time. Sifiso Ronny Prince Mokoena pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, said the incident took place on July 26, 2020.

“The victim was in the field with the two ladies at Waterval Boven, Belfast, collecting firewood when three males wearing balaclavas emerged. Two men threatened the victim and took turns raping her before fleeing the scene,” Nyuswa said.

The matter was reported, and inves-tigations by police led to the arrest of Mokoena. He was linked to the crime through DNA.