OFFENDER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR BRUTAL RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
18 June 2025
OFFENDER SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE TERMS FOR BRUTAL RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
Mothibistad, Northern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentencing of Thabo Gift Magwatane (33) to two life terms and an additional 45 years’ imprisonment by the Mothibistad Regional Court for seven grave charges, including rape, kidnapping, housebreaking, and attempted murder. The court also declared Magwatane unfit to possess a firearm and ordered his inclusion on the National Register for Sex Offenders. This landmark conviction, stemming from a horrific attack on two matric learners on 23 February 2022, underscores the NPA’s unwavering commitment to eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) and delivering justice for survivors.
On 23 February 2022, in Dithakong village near Mothibistad, Magwatane and three accomplices broke into the home of two matric learners, aged 17 and 18, who resided there to attend school. The perpetrators turned off the lights, demanding money and phones, and stole R100 and two cellphones. They then stripped the victims naked, forced them to wear sandals, blindfolded them, and led them to a veld. En route, one perpetrator raped both victims. At a nearby river, the victims were raped again, this time by a different perpetrator.
After the assaults, one perpetrator ordered another to stab the victims, who were attacked repeatedly across their upper bodies. As they collapsed, their blindfolds were removed, and the perpetrators fled. When one survivor stood up, the perpetrators returned, stabbing her multiple times with instructions to “finish her off.” During this final attack, one victim’s cellphone alarm triggered, allowing her, while pretending to be dead, to glimpse Magwatane, her cousin’s boyfriend, attempting to silence the alarm. After the perpetrators left, the survivors lay in the veld for 30 minutes before assisting each other to seek help. Rejected at one house, they persisted at another, where residents provided blankets and contacted their parents. The survivors spent three weeks in the ICU, undergoing reconstructive surgery and recovering from severe injuries.
Magwatane evaded capture for nearly two years until his arrest in Rustenburg in early 2024. He was charged with housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, kidnapping and rape of the 18-year-old, and attempted murder, rape, and kidnapping of the 17-year-old. A second accused, Obakeng Mosesane (25), remains in custody, with his trial set for 02 July 2025. The trials were separated due to Magwatane’s initial abscondment.
Regional Court Prosecutor Bernice Bronkhorst-Oor presented a compelling case, supported by victim impact statements compiled with Court Preparation Officer Beauty Moreeng. These statements detailed the survivors’ profound physical and emotional trauma, including their ongoing fear and loss of safety in their own homes. Bronkhorst-Oor argued that the brutality of the crimes and their lasting impact far outweighed Magwatane’s circumstances. The Kuruman Hospital Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) played a pivotal role, providing psychosocial support and preparing the survivors for court.
In aggravation of sentence, the prosecution emphasised the absence of substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the mandatory minimum sentences of life imprisonment for the rape charges (Counts 4 and 5). The presiding magistrate described the survivors’ survival as “by God’s grace” and labelled Magwatane a “dangerous individual” requiring permanent removal from society, affirming the prosecution’s stance.
Magwatane received: Count 1 (Housebreaking with Intent to Steal and Theft): 5 years’ imprisonment. Counts 2 and 3 (Kidnapping): 10 years’ imprisonment each. Counts 4 and 5 (Rape): Life imprisonment each. Counts 6 and 7 (Attempted Murder): 10 years’ imprisonment each. All sentences run concurrently with the life terms, ensuring Magwatane remains incarcerated for life. The firearm ban and sex offender registry inclusion further protect society.
The NPA commends the extraordinary courage of the two survivors, whose resilience and determination to testify secured this conviction. Northern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Livingstone Sakata praised Prosecutor Bernice Bronkhorst-Oor, Court Preparation Officer Beauty Moreeng, and the Kuruman TCC team for their dedication. “This outcome sends a powerful message: the NPA will relentlessly pursue justice for GBV survivors, ensuring perpetrators face the full might of the law,” he said. The expansion of TCCs from 55 in 2020/21 to 66 today reflects the NPA’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to victims of sexual violence.
The NPA urges communities to stand against GBV by reporting crimes promptly and supporting survivors through TCCs, which offer medical, psychological, and legal assistance. The survivors’ persistence in seeking help, despite initial rejection, and their parents’ swift response highlight the critical role of collective action. The NPA calls for increased vigilance to protect learners and vulnerable populations, fostering a South Africa where everyone can live free from violence and fear.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
073 423 3539