Man sentenced to two life terms in South Africa for raping and murdering a 9-year-old child

 

Two life sentences have been given to a South African man for murdering and raping a nine-year - old child. Philip Mailula, 27, from Mpulanga, was convicted on Friday, September 18, at Mbokola Magistrate's Court. Guilty, he pled.

In December 2017, Mailula took Bawinile Khoza to the bush in Mmametlhake, and raped her, according to police spokesman Sgt Tlaki Matemane.

"He then chose to end a girl's life, strangled her and dumped her lifeless body in the forest," Matemane said.

"The defendant then returned to his place of residence and did not find calm, became terrified and went to report the incident to the local prophetess, who alerted the police."

Mailula was arrested and linked via DNA proof to the assault on Bawinile.

Bawinile 's family, referring to The Time after the incident, said they still find it hard to cope with the loss.

"We feel helpless, and our lives have changed for the worse, and the pain is not gone," said Joseph Mondlana, the grandfather of the child.

"After this happened, her mother, Nozipho, has lost her mind. She's stopped eating, talking, smiling, or socializing. She's gone mad and we've had to take her to Nelspruit 's relatives where she's going to be far away to recover," he added.