A heinous crime shook the small town of Grabouw, South Africa in December 2017. A 27yearold woman was on her way home in Libanon when she was brutally attacked and raped by two men. One of the attackers, Koos Kerneels, was recently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in this atrocious act.
The Madadeni Regional Court in Newcastle, South Africa, has set a significant precedent in protecting women and children from sexual violence by handing down a groundbreaking decision. On May 4, 2023, the court sentenced Muziwami Zwane, a 45yearold man, to three life imprisonment terms for raping three women in separate incidents in November 2019. Additionally, he received nine years for kidnapping and six years for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The court’s landmark ruling emphasizes that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated, and that the justice system stands firmly behind the victims.