Two Eastern Cape men have been given lengthy prison sentences for rape by the Butterworth Regional Court, police said on Friday. 

On Thursday, Similo Zozo (28) was sentenced to 17 years for raping a 22-year-old woman last year, Captain Jackson Manatha said.

"On January 25 2011... the accused met the victim at Zazela Location Tyinira Village, Ngqamakwe, and he dragged her to an open field where raped her."

On Wednesday, Zolani Mabinza (29) was jailed for 18 years by the same court for raping a female relative on August 16.

Manatha said the sentences would serve as a warning for other would-be rapists.