Johannesburg, South Africa. (News of the South) – A 33-year-old man was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Rouxville Court for assault, kidnapping and raping his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend Free State police said on Monday.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Yanga Ngcukana said Zenzile Qithi was sentenced on August 25, for the January 2016 rape.

Ngcukana said the woman was on her way to a local clinic when the Qithi forcefully dragged her to the nearby shack and raped her.

The station Commander of Zastron Lieutenant Colonel Disebo Tshabalala said the sentencing came at a good time when they are busy education the community especially females on domestic related crimes and abuses they endure every day from their partners.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Empangeni Regional Court after he raped a 17-year-old mentally challenged male youth in his home on Christmas Day two years ago.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said the sentence was passed on Friday.

“On 25 December 2014, at Empangeni, a 17-year-old male victim who is mentally challenged was seen crying and when asked the reason, he stated he was allegedly raped by the accused while at his place of residence.

“A case of rape was opened at Empangeni SAPS and the FCS unit took over the investigation and the accused was arrested within hours the case was opened. He made several court appearances until his sentence.”