Life term for ex-troopie

Soldier lies about being HIV-negative and defies partner’s condom rule.

- Chulumanco Mahamba

An ex-South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his girlfriend and an additional 10 years for attempted murder after he knowingly infected her with HIV.

Leon Santos Conga, 48, and Antoinette Ndishishi were in a relationship for four months from 16 December, 2016 until April, 2017.

Before the relationship started, Ndishishi tested negative for HIV on 1 December, 2016 and when the relationship began she insisted on knowing Conga's HIV status. He lied and told her that he was HIV-negative.

Despite the lie, Ndishishi established a "no condom, no sex" rule in the relationship. Conga defied this rule and removed the condom when the two were intimate.

"This apparently happened twice until the victim felt unwell and went to do an HIV test.