SERIAL RAPIST AND KILLER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPE AND MURDER
04 August 2025
SERIAL RAPIST AND KILLER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPE AND MURDER
Kimberley, Northern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Northern Cape welcomes the conviction and sentencing of Selby Petrus George (38), who has been found guilty of multiple violent offences, including rape, murder, attempted rape and assault.
The High Court sitting in Kimberley sentenced George to two terms of life imprisonment for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Chevonnia Bosman and a further eight years for the attempted rape and assault of two other women in Marydale. George followed a disturbing pattern of targeting vulnerable women, particularly those who were intoxicated at night and on their own. His method was deliberate and predatory.
In one incident on 02 March 2019, George ambushed the victim while she was using a toilet at a residence in Marydale. He dragged her to a bedroom, assaulted her and attempted to rape her. She fought back by biting and screaming and was eventually rescued by another victim of the accused. At the time, George had already removed his clothes and was trying to block them inside the room, hindering their escape, while demanding sex. When another victim intervened to protect the victim, George physically attacked her too. He choked her, threw her against a wall, and violently subdued her.
The brutal nature of the assault was supported by physical injuries and consistent witness testimonies. In the most harrowing case, on 07 October 2018, the body of Chevonnia Bosman, was discovered naked and abandoned under a bridge in Marydale.
The post-mortem report confirmed she had been strangled. Forensic evidence placed George at the scene and confirmed the presence of his DNA inside her body. He tried to claim the encounter was consensual, but this was disproved by witnesses and expert evidence. The court ruled that the accused’s version of the rape and murder was not reasonably possible and incompatible with the timeline of the events that unfolded that evening. Although no genital injuries were found on the body, the context and position the undressed complainant was found in, witnesses’ accounts and forensic findings confirmed the absence of consent and led to his conviction on both counts of murder and rape.
The prosecution, led by State Advocate Catharina Jansen and Advocate Terché Engelbrecht, argued that there were no substantial or compelling reasons to justify a lesser sentence than the prescribed sentences. George’s conduct demonstrated a repeated and dangerous pattern of violence against women. He had previous convictions for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, showed no remorse and remained a threat to society. In delivering the sentence, the court highlighted George’s complete disregard for women’s dignity and safety. It was noted with dismay how he violated, murdered, and discarded an 18-year-old woman as if her life had no value.
The court remarked: “Our country continues to suffer under the scourge of gender-based violence and it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel.” The mother of the deceased also delivered a powerful victim impact statement that underscored the lasting trauma and loss experienced by the family. George was sentenced to seven years for attempted rape, one year for assault, and two sentences of life imprisonment for the rape and murder of Bosman. The court, however, acquitted him on two earlier charges. In Count 1, the complainant alleged that George raped her after dragging her from her bed, whilst she was intoxicated.
The court found her testimony unreliable due to her extreme level of intoxication, contradictions in her account and a lack of supporting physical evidence. In Count 2, involving an alleged assault in June 2018, the court found that no complaint had been laid, no medical examination had been conducted, and there were no corroborating witnesses, resulting in an acquittal.
The NPA commends the bravery of the survivors and the commitment of the prosecution and investigating teams. This case is a stark reminder of the devastation caused by gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and the urgent need to continue bringing perpetrators to justice.
The NPA remains firmly committed to confronting these crimes and ensuring justice for all victims, particularly the most vulnerable in our society. All cases of sexual violence encroach on the rights to dignity and privacy of the victims as enshrined in our constitution, hence the NPA will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
073 423 3539