RAPIST SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT BY POTCHEFSTROOM REGIONAL COURT
07 November 2025
RAPIST SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT BY POTCHEFSTROOM REGIONAL COURT
Potchefstroom, North West- The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the 20-year direct imprisonment handed down by the Potchefstroom Regional Court to Kaizer Abraham Diseko (31) following his conviction on three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court consolidated all three counts of rape for sentencing and imposed 20 years’ imprisonment and an additional 4 years for sexual assault. The sentences will run concurrently.
On 21 November 2021, in Ikageng, an 18-year-old victim lost her cellphone in a local tavern. The next morning, she met up with Diseko and his friends and informed them that she had lost her cellphone. Diseko offered to trace the cellphone using his laptop, under the pretence, he lured the victim to his shack. He then instructed his friends and the friends of the victim to go buy alcohol and visit somewhere else, as he wanted to be alone when working.
In the shack, the victim indicated that she felt exhausted, and she was offered a bed to nap. Whilst napping, she was woken up by the accused claiming that he had long been attracted to her and that she should keep quiet and not make any noise. Diseko took out a safe from under the bed and informed the victim that he had a firearm inside the safe and that he would kill her and himself should she resist. He raped the victim several times.
Later that day, her friends went to Diseko’s place looking for the victim, as it was getting late and she had not returned. Upon their arrival, they knocked on the door and made noise until the door was opened. The victim then ran outside crying and informed her friends that the accused had raped her. They went to the police station and opened a case. The accused was arrested the same day and later released on bail.
During the trial, Diseko pleaded not guilty. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Salvation Ngcobo argued that the accused, under the pretence, lured the victim to his place, where he took advantage of her. She further told the court that gender-based violence in South Africa is out of hand and should not be tolerated. In delivering the judgment, the court found that there were compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, citing that the accused was a first-time offender.
The victim was provided with immediate support and was subsequently referred to the Potchefstroom Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received comprehensive medical, emotional and legal support.
Welcoming the sentence, Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, commended Prosecutor Salvation Ngcobo and all role-players for securing the conviction. The DPP hopes this judgment will send a powerful message that gender-based violence will not be tolerated in South Africa. The NPA will continue to ensure justice for victims of crimes.
Issued by:
Sivenathi Gunya
Communications Officer
North West Division
078 172 9367