Man Set For Sentencing For Raping,Killing And Cutting Open Lady's Stomach In South Africa

The State will seek a life sentence for Johannes Kana, who was convicted on Tuesday of the rape and murder of Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

"We will ask for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment," spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said.

The NPA welcomed Kana's conviction on both charges in the Swellendam Circuit Court.

"We are happy that the court came to the conclusion, as we have argued over the past eight months, that the only person who was responsible for the rape and murder of Anene Booysen was Johannes Kana."

Sentencing is expected on Wednesday, which would have been Booysen's 18th birthday, according to Ntabazalila.

"We are now going to be asking the court to impose a life imprisonment to ensure that we deliver justice for Anene, her family, her friends and the community of Bredasdorp."

The NPA commended the work of the investigating and prosecuting teams that worked to finalise the case within eight months.

Booysen was raped and disembowelled, and died in Tygerberg hospital, Cape Town, on the afternoon of Saturday, February 2.

Kana was seen with Booysen outside a Bredasdorp pub in the early hours of that day.

Ntabazalila said there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in the attack on Booysen.

It was previously reported that Booysen said from her hospital bed that five or six men were involved in the attack.

Initially, Kana, Jonathan Davids and another man were arrested.

Charges were later withdrawn against Davids and the other man because of insufficient evidence.

Before she died, Booysen named one of her assailants as "Zwai", which was both the nickname of Davids and another man said to live in Zwelitsha.

Ntabazalila said: "We have argued in court that not too much weight must be put on the name of Zwai... that was mentioned by Anene Booysen while she was in hospital".

"We have argued that Anene Booysen was in terrible pain, under the influence of alcohol, under medication."

He said Davids had scratch marks and blood on one of his shoes, but had an explanation for this.

"His clothes and those of Kana were taken for forensic testing. The results did not implicate him."

Davids also had an alibi for the morning of the rape and murder.

"The State withdrew the charges against him as there was no evidence linking him to the rape and the murder."

- SAPA