The Scottburgh Regional Court has sentenced 58-year-old Siyabonga Nicholas Jali to life imprisonment for the repeated rape of a 13-year-old girl in the Mthwalume area. The sentence was handed down on 01 December 2025, following several court appearances by the accused.
According to evidence presented in court, the offences date back to 2021. The case culminated in a specific incident on 27 August 2022, when the victim and other children accompanied Jali to a nearby river to fish. Jali instructed the other children to fish at a distance while he remained with the victim. He then smoked dagga, forced the minor to do the same, and proceeded to rape her.
A preliminary investigation by the Port Shepstone Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit revealed that Jali had been sexually assaulting the girl since 2021. Detectives from the unit were credited for their tireless work in building the case, which ultimately ensured a life sentence.
In addition to the life term, the court declared Jali unfit to possess a firearm.
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