Ex-boxing champ found guilty of rape

FORMER South African and international boxing champion Thabo Sonjica has been found guilty of rape. Sonjica had been charged with rape after a February 11 2014 incident in which he dragged a girl, aged 16 at the time, into a shack where he attacked her sexually. Sonjica told magistrate Ignatius Kitching he wanted to “grace her with his attention because she never had it before”.

In the East London Regional Court, Kitching found Sonjica guilty and his bail of R1 000 was extended. His manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, of All Winner’s Boxing Club, said they were aware of the conviction and for as long and he had not been sentenced, it was “business as usual”. He said the club did not condone what Sonjica had done. He will be sentenced on February 12.