A serial rapist found guilty of preying on five "young and defenceless women" avoided receiving a life sentence, but has been sentenced to spend 30 years in prison.
A serial rapist found guilty of preying on five "young and defenceless women" avoided receiving a life sentence, but has been sentenced to spend 30 years in prison.
Ayanda Toyi, 21, of Hlanani Location was convicted at the end of last year, after five young women and girls that he raped at knife-point between January 2008 and April 2010 testified against him in the high court in Grahamstown. He was convicted of five counts of rape and one count of theft. Two of the girls had been under aged at the time.
Because of Toyi's age and the fact that he lacked parental guidance for a large portion of his life, his lawyer, Gys Niesing said that a life sentence would be inappropriate. “He was between 18 and 19 at the time of committing the offences.”
However, State prosecutor advocate Sibusiso Mgenge argued that Toyi was found guilty of very serious offences that have a severe effect on his victims.
“The accused preyed on young and defenceless women. He forced them to go with him to his place. No condom was used by the accused, thus placing their lives at risk,” Mgenge said.
Despite saying that Toyi “treated the complainants with utter disdain,” Judge Nomathamsanqa Beshe said his lack of parental guidance counts for him, and because of his age there's the prospect that he may be rehabilitated. The court decided that Toyi's circumstances warranted the imposition of a lesser sentence than the prescribed life term.
He received 30 years each for the first three rapes, 10 years each for the last two rapes, and 12 months for theft. The sentences will run concurrently.
The judge also ordered that Toyi's name be registered in the National Register of Sex Offenders.
Outside the court on Tuesday, one of the victims told Grocott's Mail that she was not happy with the sentence. "I wanted him to get a life sentence. He will come back after 30 years and continue to ruin the lives of other children," she said.
