Sexual assault cases soar in Thyolo — Court

Thyolo magistrate court has said it is overwhelmed by the number of defilement cases being registered a development which it says needs intervention.

“We handle defilement cases almost on daily basis. We have not done research on why there has been an increase on these cases. Other partners can help to establish the cause and sensitize the communities,” said Roy Kakutu, Thyolo First Grade Magistrate.

In an interview, Kakutu said defilement cases top the list of all other common cases in the district.

“We have house breaking and theft as common cases but we get surprised that defilement which is serious tops the list,” he said.

Thyolo Police Prosecutor, Constable Innocent Mkwezalamba, said the problem could be reduced by involving the police in massive campaign to sensitize communities on issues of the defilement cases.

“Some people up to now don’t know that sleeping with a girl who is under 18 is a crime. Parents need to know reporting mechanisms when their daughters are defiled, as most parents end up being bribed by perpetrators, and the case ends there,” he said.

Mkwezalamba said due to ignorance, some parents do not report defilement cases to police, if they are reported they then do not turn up to testify in court against the suspects, which makes the fight against the vice very difficult.

“We wish partners could come in to help. Police cannot do it alone, we need support if we are to reach out to the masses and reduce the trend,” said the prosecutor.

Meanwhile, Limbe Senior Resident Magistrate Court has  sentenced Frank John, 32, to 12 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for defiling a 10 year old girl in Kachere Township.

Limbe Police Station Assistant Public Relations Officer, Widson Nhlane, said  John wooed the girl into his house with soaked rice.

“On August 6 this year, the girl’s parents were away and she was playing with her friends at home when the convict who is married called the victim into his house and gave her the soaked rice and promised to give her groundnuts later,” said Nhlane.

Sudden the convict undressed and defiled the minor and gave her K100 so that she should not reveal the matter to anyone.

Nhlane said the victim, however, reported the incident to her parents and John was arrested on the same day and pleaded guilty when he appeared in court.

Passing judgement, Magistrate ,Thoko Soko said such cases are on the rise and girls need to be protected hence sentenced John to 12 years IHL to act as a deterrent to would be offenders.

John hails from Mapwesera Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimaliro in Thyolo.

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