Young Lusikisiki doctor charged with raping three women appears in court

A young Eastern Cape doctor is in court facing a string of charges including five counts of rape, two of kidnapping and pointing a firearm.

Dr Khangelani Wilson, 34, who works at St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki, is accused of raping three women between October 30 2021 and October 30 2022.

Wilson will appear in the Mthatha high court sitting at Port St Johns on Tuesday for the continuation of his trial.

He pleaded not guilty when he appeared in the magistrate’s court.

At the time of the incidents, his alleged victims were two 19year-old women and a 25-yearold woman. It is alleged he gave lifts to them.

Wilson was one of the senior medical students who were assaulted and injured when fellow student Lwando Mantshontsho was stabbed to death in his room by a group of Walter Sisulu University students in May 2017.

Mantshontsho was a finalyear medical student at WSU’S Nelson Mandela Drive campus.

According to court papers before judge Richard Brooks, the state accuses Wilson of:

● Raping a woman, 25, in his car near the sea at Port St Johns on October 30 2021;

● Raping her again later the same day;

● Kidnapping a 19-year-old woman and keeping her captive at St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki on August 10 2022;

● Later the same day raping the woman in the doctors’ quarters at St Elizabeth Hospital;

● Kidnapping another 19-yearold and keeping her in his quarters at St Elizabeth Hospital on October 30 2022 against her will;

● Later the same day in the same place raping his captive twice; and

● On the same day pointing a firearm at his captive.

According to the state, Wilson committed some of the crimes when he was out on bail for the first incident.

A case was opened on the same day of the first alleged attack, but later withdrawn.

However, the case was reinstated and Wilson was arrested on August 17 2022.

He was later released on bail.

Some of the victims were women he had allegedly given lifts to when he saw them walking home from church or school.

Wilson was originally represented by a private attorney, but last week he applied for Legal Aid assistance, which was approved.

Health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said Wilson was still employed by the department.

His salary had been frozen since his arrest.

In another matter, an emaxesibeni hospital clinical associate, Sikhokele Soldati is accused of raping a patient in a hospital consulting room on December 8 2022.

NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Soldati had pleaded not guilty.

“Soldati’s case has since been transferred from the emaxesibeni magistrate’s court to the Kwabhaca (formerly Mount Frere) regional court. “The case was back in court on Monday [February 26],” Tyali said.

Kupelo said: “He was suspended immediately after [the rape complaint was filed].

“The internal case continued and he was found guilty and fired.

“He then lodged an appeal, and the appeal has been with the head office appeals committee since September last

year.” Soldati remains suspended.