NPA says it has enough evidence to prove Uyinene's killer guilty of attempted rape in 2014

CAPE TOWN - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that the State had enough evidence to prove the man convicted of raping and murdering Uyinene Mrwetyana was guilty of an attempted rape in 2014.

Luyanda Botha, who is currently serving a life sentence for Mrwetyana's rape and murder in 2019, was back in Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, where he is on trial for the attempted rape of a 21-year-old nursing student in 2014.

It’s the State's case that Botha found the victim taking a bath and attempted to rape her when he visited the Athlone Nursing College in June 2014. 

The victim laid a complaint but failed to attend court proceedings and the matter was then removed from the court roll.

She reopened the case in 2019 after recognising Botha during media coverage of Mrwetyana's rape and murder.

Botha's attempt to have the charges against him withdrawn was denied in court on Tuesday.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila explained: "The Section 174 application of Luyanda Botha was declined by the court and the case has now been postponed to the 2nd of August and the 6th of August. On the 2nd of August, he will take the stand and testify and then we will continue with our cross-examination."  

Ntabazalila said evidence showed that Botha was in the nursing home on the day of the alleged incident.