A South African has bagged two life sentences for murder and rape of a nine-year-old girl.
Philip Mailula, 27, from Mpulanga, who was handed the sentences by Mbokola Magistrate Court on Friday, September 18 pleaded guilty.
Mailula, according to police spokesman, Sgt Tlaki Matemane, took Bawinile Khoza to the bush in Mmametlhake and raped her in December 2017.
“He then decided to end the life of a girl, strangled her and dumped the lifeless body at the bush,” said Matemane.
“The accused then returned back to his residential place and did not get peace, became scared and went to report the incident to the local prophetess, who alerted the police.”
Mailula was arrested and linked to the attack on Bawinile through DNA evidence.
Speaking to The Time after the incident, Bawinile’s family said they are still finding it difficult to cope with the loss.
“We feel powerless and our lives have changed for the worse, the pain does not go away,” said the girl’s grandfather, Joseph Mondlana.
“Since this happened her mother, Nozipho, has lost her mind. She stopped eating, talking, laughing or socialising. She went crazy and we had to take her to relatives in Nelspruit, where she would be far from this place and heal,” he added.
