29-Year-Old Convict Found Guilty of Multiple Offences

02 APRIL 2025

29-Year-Old Convict Found Guilty of Multiple Offences

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg, has found Noko Peter Phukubje (25) guilty on multiple charges, including murder, rape, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. These crimes were committed in collaboration with his accomplices in Kanana, Tembisa.

Phukubje was previously convicted of housebreaking in 2017 and sentenced to two years in prison. While on parole, he committed another offence, and a DNA sample taken in Limpopo linked him to the current case.

The complainant reported the incident to the police, leading to an investigation by Sergeant Mafufuwe Mangwale. The investigation revealed that on 18 November 2018, the complainant and her partner were ambushed by the accused and his accomplices while walking to his home. The complainant was grabbed from behind and choked while the others attacked her partner, rendering him unconscious. The accused and his accomplices then took turns raping the complainant and stole her phone. Her partner was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The cause of death was determined to be a blunt force head injury.

The State relied on circumstantial evidence to link the accused to the offences. Advocate Nonkululeko Serepo argued that circumstantial evidence can be even more conclusive than eyewitness testimony. Delivering the verdict, the court found that the accused and his co-perpetrators acted in concert to attack the victims, demonstrating a shared intent. The court held that Phukubje played a direct role in the brutal assault that resulted in the victim's death.

Each successful prosecution is the culmination of months or even years of meticulous investigative and prosecutorial work. This case exemplifies the dedication of law enforcement and the NPA in ensuring justice for victims.

Issued by:

Phindi Mjonondwane
NPA Regional Spokesperson – Gauteng Division, Johannesburg
083 402 4787 / 011 220 4245
hmjonondwane@npa.gov.za