Njabulo Ndlovu from Umlazi spent over a decade in prison after being wrongfully convicted of rape—a crime he did not commit[1][5].
At just 19 years old, while a second-year law student at the University of Durban-Westville (now University of KwaZulu-Natal), Ndlovu was arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a gang rape case that occurred in Umlazi[1][5]. Despite the lack of evidence and no DNA linking him to the crime, the court found him guilty and sentenced him alongside one other accused; three co-accused were acquitted due to insufficient evidence[1][5]. Throughout the trial and his subsequent imprisonment, Ndlovu maintained his innocence.
He was eventually acquitted by the Pietermaritzburg High Court after 13 years, once it was determined that there was no evidence or DNA connecting him to the crime[1][5]. During his incarceration, Ndlovu continued his studies and successfully completed his law degree[1].
After his release, he expressed a desire to move on from the traumatic experience and rebuild his life[1].