15 DECEMBER 2025
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR FEMICIDE
The Estcourt Regional Court sentenced a 36-year-old man to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty (Section 112(2)) to the murder of his ex-partner in May 2025 at the Estcourt taxi rank. The accused and the 33-year-old deceased were in a domestic relationship, and they shared three minor children together. However, the deceased left the accused due to abuse in their relationship.
12 DECEMBER 2025
FORMER POLICE OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS’ DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR CORRUPTION
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of five years’ direct imprisonment handed down by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court to South African Police Service official, Raymond Kabe (43), from Rietondale. Kabe and his co-accused, Matase Andries Rathepye (now deceased), were convicted of corruption involving an amount of R2 000.
12 DECEMBER 2025
CONVICTION AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR SERIAL RAPIST WHO TARGETED ELDERLY WOMEN
Kroonstad, Free State – The Kroonstad Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Mofihli Tshabalala for a series of violent rapes and robberies committed between 2012 and 2018 in the Maokeng area. The crimes were committed against elderly women aged 60 to 78 and were characterised by intimidation, the use of a knife, and deliberate targeting of vulnerable victims.
The court heard evidence relating to four separate incidents:
12 DECEMBER 2025
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR A RAPIST UNCLE
The Durban Regional Court has sentenced a 43-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his niece on diverse occasions in Mayville in 2017. The complainant was 16 years old at the time. The accused is the complainant’s uncle, and they resided in the same homestead together with the complainant’s grandmother and sister. At some point, the grandmother and the sister moved to another area, leaving the complainant under the care of the accused.
12 DECEMBER 2025
ELDERLY MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER OF LIFE PARTNER
Williston, Northern Cape – The Williston Regional Court has sentenced Hans Van Wyk (61) to an effective 20 years’ direct imprisonment for the murder of his 55-year-old life partner, committed on 23 December 2024. Van Wyk was charged with murder, read with Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, after he repeatedly stabbed the deceased during an argument.