The Gqeberha High Court sentenced 35-year-old serial rapist Anele Skunyana to seven life years in jail for a string of horrific crimes carried out between 2013 and 2019.
Skunyana the rapist
When Skunyana, a jikeleza taxi driver, was connected through DNA evidence to seven other rape incidents from the same time period, he was already serving a 14-year sentence for a 2019 rape.
Skunyana was found guilty after entering a guilty plea to every allegation.
He was sentenced to five years in jail for each of the six kidnapping counts, in addition to seven life sentences for rape.
Police details on Skunyana rape
He raped an eighteen-year-old girl after dragging her into a passageway. He repeated his horrible behavior in November 2013 when he sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman on Makina Street in Zwide.
He sexually assaulted a seventeen-year-old adolescent in New Brighton in December 2018 after having sexual relations with an eight-year-old girl in Mahlangu Street in February 2018.
He sexually assaulted two women in Kwamagxaki and Despatch on Sansucci Road in September 2018 and March 2019, respectively.
After entering a guilty plea, the defendant was found guilty of every charge.
The sentences will flow one after the other.
Detective Sergeant Jerome Jacobs of the Motherwell Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit is the investigating officer.
Police praised for for Skunyana’s sentence
Lieutenant General Mene, the provincial commissioner, commended him for his steadfast dedication and determination in bringing this dangerous criminal to justice.
“The excellent investigation strengthened the community’s confidence in our investigations’ efficacy in addition to resulting in a successful conviction.”
Anele Sunyani’s imprisonment represents a major win in the ongoing battle against gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is still one of the most prevalent and enduring issues.
Lt Gen Mene continued, “This sentence sends a clear message that society will not tolerate such heinous acts of violence, especially those targeting women.”
