EX-BOYFRIEND SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
16 July 2025
EX-BOYFRIEND SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
Mthatha, Eastern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the life imprisonment sentence handed down by the Mthatha Regional Court, sitting in Bityi, to Siphendule Buku Cothela (29) for the rape and attempted murder of his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend, the mother of their three-year-old child, on 02 December 2023 in Centuli Village. The court also ordered Cothela’s inclusion on the National Register for Sex Offenders. It declared him unfit to possess a firearm, reinforcing the NPA’s unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and protecting victims.
On 2 December 2023, Cothela approached his ex-girlfriend at a tavern in Centuli Village, near Mthatha, where she was socializing with friends. Pretending concern for their child’s welfare, he confronted her as she left the tavern. He then forcibly took her to an abandoned house, where he brutally assaulted her with fists, open hands, a belt, and stabbed her with scissors, rendering her unable to walk or speak. Cothela raped her and locked her in the house, leaving her in a dire health state. Five days later, on 7 December 2023, the property owner, returning for the holidays, discovered the victim and ensured she received medical attention.
She was admitted to a local clinic, then transferred to a hospital, where she remained wheelchair-bound for five days due to severe injuries. Upon discharge, the victim reported the incident to the police and received counselling and medical examination at the Mthatha Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), which confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault. Cothela fled to Jojweni village but was arrested on 2 February 2024 at his paternal relatives’ home.
Cothela pleaded not guilty to rape, admitting only to the assault. State Advocate Luvuyo Komanisi presented compelling evidence, including the victim’s testimony, the account of the person to whom the rape was reported, and a medico-legal examination report (J88) confirming physical injuries. A Victim Impact Statement, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nontlantla Siphika, detailed the profound physical and psychological trauma endured by the victim.
The court rejected Cothela’s denial of rape as implausible, finding the prosecution’s evidence credible and convicting him of both rape and attempted murder. In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Komanisi argued that Cothela’s actions were premeditated and malicious, exploiting his prior relationship with the victim to perpetrate a heinous act of GBV. He emphasised the severe trauma inflicted, including life-threatening injuries. He urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997. The court agreed, stating, “The accused’s brutal assault and rape of a vulnerable woman, coupled with his attempt to end her life, demand the severest penalty to protect society.” Finding no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate, the court sentenced Cothela to life imprisonment for rape and a concurrent sentence for attempted murder, alongside firearm restrictions and sex offender registry inclusion.
The NPA commends the resilience of the victim, whose courage in reporting the crime, supported by the property owner and TCC, ensured accountability. Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo praised Advocate Luvuyo Komanisi, Court Preparation Officer Nontlantla Siphika, the investigating officer, and TCC staff, stating, “This life sentence delivers justice for the victim and removes a dangerous offender from our communities, reinforcing our resolve to combat GBV.” The NPA’s partnership with Thuthuzela Care Centres provided critical psychosocial support, reflecting its victim-centric approach.
The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant, report GBV promptly, and support survivors through TCCs, which offer medical, psychological, and legal assistance. This case highlights the critical role of community members, like the property owner, in saving lives and ensuring justice. The NPA calls on South Africans to unite against GBV, fostering safe environments where women and children’s constitutional rights to dignity and safety are upheld, and perpetrators face the full might of the law.
Issued by:
Luxolo Tyali
Regional Spokesperson Eastern Cape Division
National Prosecuting Authority
047 501 2630