On Thursday, Ntokozo Zikhali, previously acquitted of murder in the Bokgabo Poo case, was handed a life sentence for the 2021 grievous rape of a nine-year-old girl in Wattville, Benoni.
Ntokozo Zikhali handed life sentence for child rape
Zikhali’s acquittal in the Bokgabo Poo murder case last week sparked outrage and debate within the community and legal circles.
The subsequent conviction in the separate child rape case adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing mystery surrounding the brutal mutilation of Poo, who was last seen alive in the company of Zikhali.
Judge Ian Cox minced no words in expressing his condemnation of Zikhali’s actions.
His words echoed the collective shock and concern over the escalating incidents of child rape in the country.
“The rape of children has become an epidemic in this country. Rape is the most horrific and dehumanising violation of a person, it vexes the soul more than violating the body. The accused trampled on the constitutional rights of the complainant and showed her no respect. There is no justification for what he has done,” Judge Cox said.
Is this how Zikhali lured Bokgabo Poo?
As part of the plea process, Zikhali detailed how he lured the nine-year-old girl to a secluded area in Masoleng Park before subjecting her to a traumatising rape.
Hope Ngwana, a friend and member of the community, acknowledged the victim’s bravery and expressed satisfaction with the sentence.
The victim’s mother, in an emotionally charged impact letter, poured out her grief and anguish over the rape of her child.
Her poignant words illustrate the far-reaching consequences of gender-based violence on families and communities, further highlighting the urgent need for societal change.
With Zikhali finally removed from society, questions still remain unanswered on what happened to Poo. The little girl’s brutal death, at this stage, remains unsolved.