Man with bitten tongue gets 30 years

A MPUMALANGA man whose tongue was partly bitten off when he tried to rape his neighbour two years ago has been sentenced to 30 years in jail

But he will not do time for the rape attempt.

John Mperekeng Bokaba of Nokaneng village was found guilty of housebreaking and theft as well as attempted murder and sentenced to 15 years for each count in the Temba magistrate's court.

On July 13 2008, Bokaba broke into the victim's house at about 11pm and told her that, because she had turned down his love advances, he was going to rape her.

Police said Bokaba took out a knife and threatened to kill the victim .

"He then pressed her down and when he tried to kiss her, the victim bit his tongue so hard that a piece of it remained in her mouth," said Sergeant Hastings Chaane.

The victim then reported the matter to the police with part of Bokaba's tongue as an exhibit.

"We immediately went to the attacker's house and found blood on his pillows," said Chaane.

"He was then arrested and charged with attempted rape, housebreaking and theft as he stole the victim's cellphone when he left.

"He was also charged with attempted murder because he stabbed the victim several times in an attempt to free himself as she would not let go of his tongue," he said.

"She bit him for an agonizing 15 minutes and even when he stabbed her with his knife, she did not let go," Chaane said.

The court threw out the attempted rape charge but found Bokaba guilty on the other charges.

The sentences will run concurrently.