By Kaya 959 Reporter
A man who preyed on young boys has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. Sizwe ‘Lali’ Mphini was found guilty of sexually assaulting four boys in 2017 and 2018.
The youngest of his victims was eight years old while the oldest was 14 during the period he committed the crimes.
NPA spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said Mphini saw youngsters playing soccer in a field in Gqeberha and asked if they had a coach.
Mphini volunteered to be their coach and promised to buy the boys soccer jerseys.
“However, the children testified in court that Mphini never bought them soccer jerseys. He instead fondled their private parts,” Ngcakani said.
She said during practice time he would call the boys one by one and would play with their private parts.
“Mphini would invite the boys to his house to eat food and watch cartoons. He would call them one by one to his bedroom and play with their private parts. He would instruct them not to disclose the sexual assault to anyone,” she said.
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Other boys afraid to report abuse
The four boys said their genitals would swell up and become painful but they were too afraid to tell their parents.
She said the court also heard that Mphini abused more boys, not just the four who came forward. It is alleged that the other boys were afraid to report the crimes.
“Rumors about Mphini’s wrongdoings started to spread and the lid blew open when one parent went looking for her boy and found him at Mphini’s house with other young boys. She took her 10-year-old son home and when she questioned the child he disclosed the sexual assaults and stated that Mphini did the same to other boys,” she said.
A community meeting was held and when other boys came forward the community opened a case at Walmer Police Station.
Ngcakani said there is no minimum sentence provision for sexual assault therefore the court used its own discretion in sentencing.
“Mphini was found guilty for four counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to five years imprisonment for each count. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently meaning that he will serve five years direct imprisonment,” she said.
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