FIVE LIFE TERMS AND 18 MONTHS FOR SERIAL RAPIST
02 September 2025
FIVE LIFE TERMS AND 18 MONTHS FOR SERIAL RAPIST
Ermelo, Mpumalanga – The Ermelo Regional Court has sentenced Sandile Hopewell Ngozo (25) to five life terms and an additional 18-month imprisonment for the crimes committed between September 2019 to December 2022 in Ermelo and Breyten. The accused was convicted on five counts of rape and three counts of kidnapping. Ngozo’s victims are between 15 and 27 years of age. Three of these incidents happened in Ermelo and two in Breyten KwaZanele.
In some of the incidents which took place on the evening of 28 September 2019 at Sun City, Ermelo, the victim was walking on the street when she was accosted by the accused and his unknown accomplices. Ngozo grabbed her, pulled her to the roadside, and raped her. He then kept the victim in his place against her will and continued to rape her.
The second incident took place at KwaZanele, Breyten, in December 2022. The two victims were walking on the street when the accused approached them and asked them to come with him to his place. The accused was known to one of the victims. Upon arrival, Ngozo locked them inside the house for several days, during which he continued to rape one of the victims. The victims managed to escape at night and reported the rape ordeal to the police. One of the victims was able to identify the accused to the police and was linked to other crimes through DNA.
In court, Ngozo pleaded not guilty and claimed consent. However, state prosecutor Chané Rothman presented credible evidence, including DNA analysis, and a J88 medical report confirming injuries to the victim’s private area. The victims testified about the same modus operandi Ngozo used when accosting them. The court found their accounts credible, convicting Ngozo as charged. In aggravation of the sentence, Rothman addressed the court about the prevalence of violence against women and children, and that court rolls are flooded with rape matters, urging the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence. Victim Impact Statements compiled by the victims, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Faith Masango, detailed the ongoing emotional and psychological trauma suffered and were presented.
During sentencing, the court emphasised the scourge of gender- based violence perpetrated against women and children. It found no compelling reasons justifying deviation from the minimum sentence. It sentenced Ngozo to life imprisonment for each count of rape and 6 months for each count of kidnapping. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, effectively, Ngozo will serve life imprisonment. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm, unfit to work with children. Additionally, his name is to be entered into the register for sexual offenders.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence reaffirming our unwavering commitment to prosecuting gender-based violence (GBV) crimes, especially those targeting women, which violate constitutional rights to dignity, security, and privacy. The NPA remains dedicated to creating a safer South Africa free from violence and abuse.
Issued by:
Monica Nyuswa
NPA Regional Spokesperson
DPP Mpumalanga
Tel: 013 045 0625 / 076 485 5446
Email: mnyuswa@npa.gov.za