Uncle found guilty of raping and killing his niece

Nkanyiso Radebe was found guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering his six-year-old niece at Mthwalume in Hibberdene in Kwazulu-Natal.

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UNCLE PLEADS GUILTY TO THE CRIME

The uncle pleaded guilty at the Pietermaritzburg high court on Monday.

He brutally raped and strangled his niece, Vuyisile Nyawose on 12 February. The incident took place in the Mtwalume area, near Umzinto.In his plea, Radebe said that after drinking the entire night, he had woken at 6:00 and continued drinking.

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MAN WORKED AT THE CHILD’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE

Radebe said that he had been working at the child’s grandmother’s house, digging a pit toilet.

At some point, while working the pick handle from the toilet broke and the granny told him that she would borrow another pick from her neighbor.

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While she was gone, the uncle went to go buy cigarettes from a shop nearby where the child was also present. 

“I worked at Nyawose’s home and the pick I was using broke. Nyawose’s grandmother said she will ask her neighbor to lend her a pick. I asked her to give me money to buy cigarettes while she spoke to her neighbor.”

As reported by IOL, the 27-year-old told the court that on their way back he told the child to follow him and they would take a different route back to the house.

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Radebe said as they passed some bushes he decided to rape his niece. He described how he had overpowered the child and raped her twice while she was crying.

“Once I was done, Nyawose threatened to tell her grandmother,” he said. Radebe said that he was scared would tell on him, so he decided to kill her. He grabbed her and strangled her until she was lifeless. He then left her in the spot and tried to cover her body with the sand.

“I told her grandmother I left her on the way back from the shop and did not know where she was.”

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Some of the members of the community took him to the police station because they saw him last with the child. He confessed to the crime and was arrested on counts of kidnapping, two counts of rape, and murder.

“I am sorry for my actions and regret what I have done. I admit I raped her more than once when I committed acts of sexual penetration without her consent.”