A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison by the Butterworth Regional Court for two separate rape incidents that occurred in Dutywa in late 2022. The conviction was secured after forensic science linked the perpetrator to both crimes.
The court heard that the first incident occurred on 30 October 2022. A 41-year-old woman was raped by an unknown man while walking home from a local tavern during the early morning hours. The victim opened a case with the police, but the suspect could not be identified at the time, leading to the case being closed as undetected.
The second incident took place on 7 December 2022. A 46-year-old woman was attacked in an open field while searching for traditional herbs. The suspect, who was armed with a bush knife, assaulted the victim before raping her. This matter was also reported to the police, and a case was opened.
Following both incidents, the victims were taken to a Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for medical examinations, where forensic samples were collected for DNA analysis.
Subsequent analysis by the Forensic Science Laboratory revealed that the same male DNA profile was linked to both rape cases. Consequently, the cases were reopened and assigned to Detective Warrant Officer Siyabulela Yeyana for further investigation.
Through investigative work, a person of interest was identified. Buccal samples were obtained for DNA comparison, and the results came back positive, linking the suspect, Ayanda Sotyato, to both rapes.
Sotyato was arrested on 16 September 2024 and charged in connection with both incidents. He appeared before the Dutywa District Court, where the investigating officer successfully opposed his bail application. The matter was later transferred to the Butterworth Regional Court.
On 27 February 2025, the accused appeared in the Butterworth court. He was convicted on both counts of rape on 2 March 2026. Sotyato was subsequently sentenced to 25 years of direct imprisonment.