Ntokozo Zikhali handed life sentence for raping 9-year-old girl
The Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni has sentenced Ntokozo Zikhali to life imprisonment for raping a nine-year-old girl in 2021.
Thirty-one-year-old Zikhali was acquitted last week of the kidnap, rape, murder and mutilation of 4-year-old Bokgabo Poo in October last year.
Spokesperson for the NPA in Gauteng Lumka Mahanjana says the girl was playing with her friends in the park when Zikhali snatched her before raping her near a dam.
“Zikhali was linked to this offence through DNA evidence. In court he pleaded guilty to the charges; however, asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence.
“The prosecutor, Advocate Eric Sihlangu, read to the record the Victim Impact Statement prepared by the social worker, that the child suffered as a result of what Zikhali did, and that she was unable to cope at school, but has since received counselling.”
Zikhali was out on bail for the rape of the 9-year-old when Bokgabo was killed.
He was charged with her kidnapping and murder, violating a corpse and defeating the ends of justice after she disappeared from Masoleng Park in Wattville in October 2022.
The court rejected the State's evidence, which included video footage showing the accused walking with the 4-year-old and Zikhali's confession.
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