A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape of her nine-year-old neighbour in the Ibisi area of KwaZulu-Natal. The Umzimkhulu Regional Court handed down the sentence after finding the woman guilty of raping the child after calling her into her room. The court heard that the woman instructed the nine-year-old to undress before sexually assaulting her with her fingers.
The conviction was among several lengthy sentences handed down by the Umzimkhulu Regional Court following investigations by the Kokstad Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the court had a busy end to the month as serious sexual offences cases reached the sentencing stage. The unit's efforts led to several significant convictions in a short period.
In another case before the court, convicted serial rapist Tenes Hassan, 33, was sentenced to six terms of life imprisonment for raping six women in Umzimkhulu between January and December 2022. Police said Hassan broke into homes where women were either alone or with their children, demanded cellphones and money and then raped them. Most of the attacks occurred between 2am and 3am.
Detectives from the Kokstad FCS Unit were able to connect Hassan to all six cases using DNA evidence. The police collected pieces of evidence and linked Hassan to all the rape cases through the DNA. This evidence was crucial in securing the convictions. Hassan was also sentenced to an additional eight years for housebreaking.
The same court also sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his five-year-old niece in the Gowan Lea policing precinct on December 28, 2025. Police said the girl was playing at a neighbour’s house when her uncle called her to his home. Her brother followed her, but the man chased him away before raping the child.
Police confirmed that all three convicted offenders will have their names entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. This registry is a critical tool in tracking and managing sex offenders in South Africa. The sentences handed down by the court reflect the seriousness with which these crimes are viewed.
The series of convictions and sentences demonstrate the efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to combat sexual violence and protect vulnerable populations. The cases highlight the importance of reporting sexual offences and the role of DNA evidence in securing convictions.
Key points
- A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping her nine-year-old neighbour.
- Serial rapist Tenes Hassan was sentenced to six life terms for raping six women.
- A 45-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his five-year-old niece.
