KwaMhlanga – The KwaMhlanga Regional Court has sentenced a 42-year-old man, Johannes Tsepo Molobi, to two life terms and 12 additional years in prison for raping multiple women and assaulting his girlfriend.
The crimes were committed in Zakheni and Mandela, KwaMhlanga, in two separate incidents that took place in 2012 and 2020.
The first attack happened in July 2012, when Molobi broke into a house in Zakheni. He found two women sleeping, threatened them, and forced them to undress. He then took turns raping them before fleeing the scene. The second attack happened in September 2020 when Molobi stabbed and assaulted his girlfriend on a public street in Mandela before raping her.
The victims reported the attacks to the police, and medical evidence was collected. DNA tests later linked Molobi to the 2012 incident, leading to his arrest after the 2020 attack.
In court, Prosecutor Biance Harmse presented strong evidence, including the victims’ testimonies, medical reports confirming their injuries, and DNA evidence. The court found Molobi guilty of three counts of rape and one count of assault.
The judge sentenced Molobi to two life terms for the rapes, 10 years for a third rape charge, and two years for the assault. The court also declared him unfit to own a firearm, citing his violent behaviour.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence saying it showed how seriously the justice system takes cases of gender-based violence. “This sends a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated,” said NPA Mpumalanga spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa.
The victims have been praised for their bravery in coming forward, and the case highlights the importance of using DNA evidence to solve crimes. The sentence is seen as a victory for justice and a step forward in protecting vulnerable women from violence
