IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
6.MOZAMBICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF 11-YEAR-OLD
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentencing of Jorge Tivane (21) who was handed two terms of life imprisonment by the Lenasia Regional Court for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Kliptown.
The 21-year old was identified by members of the community and subsequently arrested by the Police after it emerged that he was the last person seen walking with the deceased towards the area where her body was later discovered.
Tivane was convicted on charges of rape and murder following an incident on 19 December 2022. Investigations led by Sergeant Mofokeng from Kliptown Police Station revealed that the 11-year-old was last seen walking with the accused towards a veld. Her body was later discovered strangled to death. DNA evidence recovered from a piece of clothing found on the deceased’s body positively linked Tivane to the crime. On 03 July 2025, Tivane pleaded guilty to both rape and murder. In his plea explanation, he admitted luring the 11-year-old girl into the bushes with the promise of sweets, raping her and then strangling her to death with a piece of clothing.
During sentencing, State Prosecutor Tumi Maunye emphasised the brutal and premeditated nature of the offence, noting that the victim was a vulnerable minor with mental challenges. He highlighted the profound and unending trauma inflicted on the victim’s family and the accused’s lack of remorse, calling for the maximum prescribed sentences.
The court accepted the State’s submissions and sentenced Jorge Tivane to life imprisonment for murder and life imprisonment for the rape of the minor. The NPA remains committed to prosecuting crimes against vulnerable members of society and ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence and child abuse.
5.LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPIST
The Ladysmith Regional Court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl. The complainant was 13 years old when the offences began. Since she hailed from an impoverished background with absent parents, the complainant had to fend for herself and her siblings. To this end, she worked weekends and after school at a shop in the area. This is where she met the accused, as he worked at the same shop. The accused manipulated the complainant by giving her money and clothing and in return he forced sexual intercourse with her. The offences took place between 2003 and 2014, and the complainant fell pregnant during this time.
The complainant eventually approached the Family, Child and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit of the SAPS in 2023 and reported her ordeal. The matter was then investigated, and the accused appeared in court on summons.
In court, Prosecutor Satsha Budhram led the evidence of the complainant, her brother, and the investigating officer. Ms Budhram further handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the complainant and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Khulekani Mthembu. In her statement, the complainant said that being forced into motherhood made her angry and helpless all at once. She said that she did not get the opportunity to be a teenager; instead, she had to care for children. She said that while she managed to complete her schooling (even though it took her several years), it is difficult to secure employment at her age.
In addition to the life sentence, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm and unfit to work with children. The court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. Curbing the scourge of sexual offences and gender-based violence remains an organisational priority for the organisation.
4. LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment handed down by the Madadeni Regional Court to Sanele Siyabonga Sithole (29) following his conviction for murder. In June 2022, Sithole murdered Njabulo Mkhwanazi in the Osizweni area. The two men were known to each other as they resided in the same community.
On 12 June 2022, Mkhwanazi was at a local tavern when he got involved in a fight with Sithole’s brother, and assaulted him. Following the altercation, the men returned to their respective homes. Sithole’s brother then informed him that he had been assaulted by Mkhwanazi at the tavern.
Sithole armed himself with a firearm and went to Mkhwanazi’s home. Upon confronting him, Sithole shot Mkhwanazi in the face. Mkhwanazi died at the scene. Sithole fled thereafter but handed himself over to the police the following day.
In court, Prosecutor Zama Zikalala led the testimonies of eyewitnesses who witnessed the shooting, as well as the evidence from the SAPS officer who was present at the police station when Sithole surrendered himself.
In aggravation of sentence, the State led the evidence of Mkhwanazi’s mother, who told the court that his death had left a void in their family and that they continue to struggle to come to terms with their loss.
In addition to the life sentence, Sithole was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA hopes that this sentence will serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders. We view offences of this nature in a serious light, and perpetrators will be prosecuted accordingly.
3.SERIAL RAPIST CAUGHT IN THE ACT BY POLICE SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reiterates its commitment to fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) following the sentencing of Lucky Sithole (49) in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court. Sithole was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, five years’ imprisonment for attempted murder, three years’ imprisonment for assault, and 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The case relates to a brutal attack committed on 27 February 2023 in Randburg. Investigations led by Warrant Officer Ngobeni revealed that the accused forcefully broke into the victim’s home, assaulted her with a brick, strangled and repeatedly raped her while she was alone with her infant child. The accused further stabbed the victim multiple times with a broken bottle and robbed her of her personal belongings.
The victim’s husband returned during the attack and alerted police. Officers found the accused raping the victim while she was bleeding profusely outside her shack. Despite police instructions to stop, the accused continued with the rape and attempted to flee before he was apprehended. The stolen items were recovered in his possession. DNA evidence positively linked the accused to the offences.
During trial proceedings, the accused falsely claimed that he was in a relationship with the victim, a version that was successfully disproved by State Advocate Given Mbedzi. The court also heard that Sithole has previous convictions for rape, robbery, murder, and housebreaking with intent to rape.
A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparations Officer Jurdin Mbalati, revealed that the victim suffered severe blood loss, kidney failure, memory loss, and lasting emotional trauma following the incident. The NPA remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes against women and children face the full might of the law.
2. SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS
The NPA has secured three life imprisonment terms against serial rapist, 31-year-old Sibulele Fempulana, in the Mthatha Regional Court, following his conviction on three counts of rape. The court ordered one life sentence to be served consecutively to two life imprisonment terms, which means he must serve two life imprisonment terms before being considered for parole. The victims were aged 24, 17 and 11, respectively, when the offences were committed against them. It is in relation to the rape of the 11-year-old that Magistrate Litha Madikizela ordered it run consecutively.
The court heard that in the year 2019, the accused was employed in Ngqeleni on a construction site. During his stay in Ngqeleni, he became known to the 24-year-old complainant as he was in a romantic relationship with her sister. On 23 November 2019, he, the complainant, and other people were at a local tavern. When the complainant was leaving the establishment, he followed her and forcefully took her to the bushes and raped her more than once before returning to the tavern. On arrival at her home, the complainant informed her sister and the police were called. He was arrested on the same day. After numerous appearances, the case against the accused was withdrawn by the Ngqeleni Magistrates’ Court, against the prosecution’s protestations.
In the year 2022, Fempulana moved to Libode, where he was hired as a general worker in a construction project. On 06 August 2022, he came across the minor girl who had been sent to the shop by her mother. The accused called the victim and forcefully dragged her to a nearby forest, where he raped her before vanishing from Libode town, and that case remains unresolved. The specimen taken from the accused in 2019 linked him to the Libode case.
While police were still on the hunt for him, Fempulana raped the teenage victim in Mqanduli, which is less than 100 kilometres from Ngqeleni and Libode, where he committed the previous offences. The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the Ngqeleni matter be re-enrolled, and charges against the accused were centralised. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Acting regional court prosecutor Afikile Sovendle led the evidence of all three victims, who were assisted by court preparation officer (CPO) Nontlahla Siphika. The State also submitted the evidence of medical reports of the victims. The accused maintained that there was consent that was granted by the victims; he contradicted himself in cross-examination, and he asked to exercise his right to remain silent.
After submission of the Victim Impact Statements, also prepared by the CPO, the court found no substantial and compelling circumstances for it to depart from the prescribed minimum sentence. Welcoming the sentence, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Samkelo Mtwana commended the prosecution and investigation teams for their work in securing justice. He also commended the victims for their courage in reporting the crime and testifying in court, which contributed to securing this conviction and sentence. The NPA remains resolute in its commitment to vigorously prosecute gender-based violence and ensure that survivors are protected and supported through the criminal justice process.
1. SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO LIFE AND AN ADDITIONAL 75 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
Polokwane, Limpopo: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment, and an additional 75 years imprisonment, imposed by the Limpopo High Court sitting in Polokwane on a 33-year-old man from Seshego Makgofe village. The accused was convicted on one count of attempted sexual assault, three counts of rape, and three counts of kidnapping. The name of the accused has been withheld to protect the identities of the victims and prevent secondary victimisation. The court further declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard evidence that between 2019 and 2022, the accused threatened his victims with a knife before forcing them into nearby bushes, abandoned houses, or his homestead, where he raped them. The accused was unknown to the victims but was subsequently linked to the offences through DNA evidence, which led to his arrest.
In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Elelwani Sarah Mufamadi submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to warrant a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences. She argued that the accused showed no remorse for sexually violating the victims. Furthermore, it is clear from the victim impact statements that the survivors remain deeply traumatised by the ordeal. The State concluded that the court must send a clear message to the community that perpetrators of such heinous crimes will be dealt with harshly by the courts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Limpopo Division, Adv. Ivy Thenga, stated that all cases of sexual violence severely encroach on the rights to dignity, bodily integrity, and privacy of victims as enshrined in the Constitution, which is why the NPA aggressively prosecutes these offences. The DPP commended the excellent work done by Advocate Mufamadi, the investigating team, and all stakeholders involved in securing this significant conviction.
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