File photo: Delwyn Verasamy
The reign of terror of South Coast serial rapist Sakuhire Bekisa Mulungu, who drove around in a bakkie and carried a firearm in search of his next teenage victim, ended after he was found guilty on 19 charges, including those involving children. I welcomed you. On Friday there were rapes, kidnappings and robberies.
Scottborough District Court Judge Ashina Bakallam sentenced Mulungu, 44, after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape, seven counts of kidnapping, attempted sexual offense, robbery and discharging a firearm.
Mulungu patrolled the streets of a small town where, in broad daylight, he forced 10 victims, aged between 11 and 17, and a 22-year-old woman, into his car at gunpoint before driving away. He took them to a secluded area where he raped them.
His lawyer Leslie Pillay read out Mr Mulungu's guilty plea in court on Friday. The names of his victims are being withheld to protect them.
The crimes occurred between April 2019 and April 2021. Police arrested him on March 1, 2022, and investigation and DNA evidence implicated him in the crime.
In a statement, Mr Mulungu explained how he targeted one of the 17-year-old victims near Mahawini bus stop near Braemar at 3.30pm on February 14, 2022.
“I offered to give her a ride in my white bakkie…I took her to Epanweni, near Ifafa Junction, and when she tried to get out of the car, I pointed a gun at her and asked her to stay in the car. said.
“Then I chased her into a wooded area at gunpoint and threatened to take off her clothes,” Mulungu said. He then raped her.
“At the time of the crime, I was fully aware that the complainant did not consent to sexual intercourse with me and I deprived her of her freedom by threatening her with a firearm and taking her against her will.'' I accept that,” Mulungu said. she said.
“I deeply regret my actions and apologize to the complainant, her family, and my family.”
In her argument, Ms Mulungu said she had “full knowledge” that the youngest victim, an 11-year-old girl, was a minor who did not consent to sex after she was abducted near Towey Bridge in High Flats. ''
“I met the plaintiff who was walking home from school. I pulled up next to her, pointed the gun at her, and told her to get in the car…I took her. [to] They attacked Toi Bridge near Toi and forced her against her will,” Mulungu said.
“I fired the gun and threatened her at gunpoint to take off her clothes, then I inserted my penis into her vagina and had sex with her,” he said.
Mulungu said he raped her knowing she was committing a crime against a minor.
“I was in a sane and sober state when the crime was committed. I have no valid explanation or defense. In the circumstances, I plead guilty to the above charges,” he said.
He said he was informed by his lawyer that DNA evidence linked him to the rape case.
Mr Mulungu told the court he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions in all respects.
Pillay asked the court to postpone the sentence to give Mulungu time to consult with his family, but state prosecutor Akibuka Nyokazi said he did not object because the state wanted to consult with the victims. Ta.
Mr Bakaram said the matter had been in court since May 5, 2022 and was “backlogged”.
“We need to close the case as soon as possible. Sentencing will be handed down on March 19,” Bacallam said.
Mulungu signed a document acknowledging that he had served time in prison after being convicted of burglary in 1991.
he was taken into custody.
