MBABANE: Ayanda Mhlongo, the Deputy Secretary General of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) has been charged with rape.
Mhlongo was arrested by the police on Monday afternoon at Luve,Mganwini in the Manzini region.
“The accused person is charged with the offense of Contravening section 3(1)(a) as read with sub section(9)(a) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 15/2018 in that upon or about the 23rd September 2022 and at or near Actioch area in the Manzini district, the said accused person did wrongfully and intentionally have unlawful sexual intercourse once without a condom with(name withheld for ethical reasons) 8 yrs and thus contravened the said Act. Take further note that this rape is accompanied by aggravating circumstances as envisaged by section 185 bis of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 67/1938. The accused person did not use a condom thereby putting the complaint at risk of contracting sexual transmitted diseases and infections. The accused by his unlawful act inflicted life trauma on the complainant. The suspect being a teacher at the school, he break the element of trust the victim has on him,” reads the charge sheet in part.
The Students Union Deputy Secretary General appeared at the Manzini Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Students Union Deputy Secretary Ayanda Mhlongo.