EASTERN CAPE. – Anda Nogwanya (24) was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court in East London for the rape of his maternal grandmother (76) on December 6, 2022. The grandmother has since passed away.
Luxolo Tyali, spokesperson for the NPA, said Nogwanya raped his grandmother, who was mentally incapacitated and physically weakened by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, in the Emigeni informal settlement. She was staying with her daughter, who is the mother of the convicted rapist, and another grandson.
“On the day of the incident, the complainant was left alone in the shack by her daughter. Nogwanya arrived early in the afternoon and raped his grandmother. The assault was interrupted when Nogwanya’s younger brother entered and heard their grandmother crying. He called an adult for help and returned to the shack together. Nogwanya, still naked, falsely claimed he was about to bathe. He pushed them away and ran off.”
Tyali said the incident was then reported to the police, and the complainant underwent medical and psychological evaluation. She was deemed mentally and physically impaired, which made her extremely vulnerable.
Nogwanya admitted in his plea explanation that he had smoked marijuana with friends before returning home under the influence and raping his grandmother.
“He expressed remorse and added that he was severely assaulted by community members who gathered after his younger brother raised the alarm.”
During sentencing, Adv. Andili Nohiya emphasized that the accused showed disregard for his grandmother’s dignity and well-being, and the sentence should reflect the severity of the crime.
“The court faced a complex situation, with the accused’s mother and other family members torn between loyalty and justice. They blamed the offender’s mother for his arrest and argued that the complainant’s passing in May 2023 was reason enough to drop the case. The defense also requested withdrawal, with the younger brother describing him as a responsible and financially supportive brother. Nohiya opposed this, stating that the complainant’s medical condition would have prevented her from testifying, even if she were still alive. The state insisted that justice be served regardless of family dynamics or the complainant’s death. The court agreed that the accused’s actions required accountability and that an appropriate sentence was necessary to uphold justice and protect vulnerable individuals.”
The NPA welcomed the sentence.
