The cops believe this will serve as a lesson to other women who might want to lie about being raped and waste the state’s time and resources.
The eMalahleni Magistrates Court has sentenced Thembekile Sigwili to 12 months for making up false rape claims against a man with whom it was discovered she had consented to have sex.
The 20-year-old Sigwili was given the option of paying a R500 fine or spend the 12 months inside jail.
She had unprotected sex and then lied to the police about having been raped by the man in order to get free morning-after pills to prevent herself from falling pregnant.
The Morning-After Pill is sold for R100 at pharmacies but is given free of charge by public hospitals to rape victims…
The Vosman woman was sentenced Thursday 2 July 2020 by the eMalahleni Magistrates Court after a case of “perjury” was opened against her.
Police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the woman went to the police on 25 November 2019 and reported that she had been raped.
As a procedure, the cops took her to hospital for DNA evidence and then given medication that would help her not get HIV as well as fall pregnant.
The cops then dashed straight to arrest the man who allegedly raped her.
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Later the cops found out the 20-year-old woman was actually lying…
“We found evidence that showed that the woman had gone to the man’s house to visit him and also voluntarily left the house.”
Hlathi said she admitted to lying when cops went back to her to get more information on her claims.
She confessed to having enjoyed sex with the guy and that what she told the police was a lie.
“She said she went to the man’s house voluntarily and had unprotected sex with him.
“She said as she was worried about falling pregnant, she went to the police to make a false rape case because she knew she would be taken to the hospital and be given free morning-after pills which would prevent pregnancy.”
Police boss Lieutenant-General Mondli Zuma said he was shocked to hear the story of the false rape claims made by Sigwili.
Zuma said rape is a serious crime and it can’t be allowed that someone makes a mockery of it.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa said gender-based-violence is the second pandemic following the Coronavirus and as police we regard rape seriously.
“During the process of investigation, police had to apply technical investigative methods as well as visiting the crime scene. All these required them to use resources and time which they could have diverted these resources to authentic cases.
“I am delighted though that the police managed to unearth overwhelming evidence which exposed Sigwili on her lies,” said Zuma.
(edited by MLM)
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