MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPING AN ELDERLY WOMAN

03 October 2025

MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR RAPING AN ELDERLY WOMAN

The Cofimvaba Regional Court has sentenced Siphamandla Phubaso (35) to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping a 79-year-old woman throughout the night of 18 April 2023. The victim, a pensioner, was attacked in the sanctuary of her home in the Qhumanco area, Cofimvaba, by the perpetrator, who was a distant relative and neighbour. The woman was home alone when she heard someone tampering with her door before it was forced open. When she asked who was entering, the intruder chillingly replied, “uzokundazi” (you will know me). A struggle ensued, during which the attacker threatened to shoot her, before overpowering her and raping her multiple times. He eventually left in the early hours of the morning but inadvertently left behind a set of keys.

The complainant immediately sought help from a neighbour and reported that she recognised the voice of her attacker as Phubaso’s. The keys were traced to a nearby homestead where he resided. Community members launched a search and found him hiding under a bed. When confronted by his father, Phubaso confessed to the rape. Police were then called to the scene, and he was arrested.

During the trial, the accused denied the allegations and retracted his earlier confession, claiming he had been assaulted by community members. However, under cross-examination by Prosecutor Nonkululeko Mnyani, he failed to explain why he had been hiding, nor could he provide a plausible explanation for the keys left at the victim’s house. The court found the evidence presented by the State, including the testimony of the elderly victim (with support from Court Preparation Officer Brenda Kapa), to be credible and compelling.

The NPA welcomes this sentence, which delivers justice for the victim and sends a strong message that violence against the most vulnerable in our society will not be tolerated. Cases of this nature reaffirm the NPA’s commitment to fighting gender-based violence and ensuring that perpetrators are removed from our communities.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali Regional Spokesperson 

Eastern Cape Division

National Prosecuting Authority

Tel: 047 501 2630

Cell: 073 555 9292

Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za