Life imprisonment for Thembisa man who locked partner in room and raped her for months

In July 2021, a Thembisa man named Bhutan Sizwe Mlotshwa, 46 years old, was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, attempted murder, and kidnapping. The Tembisa Magistrates' Court handed down these severe punishments after Mlotshwa was found guilty of locking his partner inside their room for months, repeatedly raping and assaulting her. The relationship between Mlotshwa and his partner was intimate and they lived together as tenants in Thembisa South.

Between July 2021 and March 2022, Mlotshwa physically and sexually abused his partner. When the victim expressed her desire to visit her family, Mlotshwa objected, leading to a confrontation where the convict became violent, assaulting her and locking her inside their room against her will. The victim was left there for several months, enduring prolonged physical and sexual abuse.

During her captivity, the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg, and was burned with cigarettes. Despite her pleas for medical assistance, Mlotshwa refused to seek help for her. Eventually, a witness who was looking for Mlotshwa while he was away managed to assist the victim in escaping and seeking help.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Magaboke Mohlatlole, welcomed Mlotshwa's conviction and sentencing, emphasizing that violence against women, especially within intimate relationships, is a grave violation of the dignity, bodily integrity, and safety of victims. The life sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the devastating consequences of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Mohlatlole reiterated the NPA's commitment to vigorously prosecuting perpetrators and advocating for sentences that reflect the gravity of these crimes.