The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains steadfast in its commitment to combating gender-based violence and sexual offences against vulnerable members of society, particularly children. The NPA continues to treat all cases of sexual violence with the utmost seriousness, aggressively prosecuting perpetrators to uphold the constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, and security of victims.

In line with this mandate, a 56-year-old man appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on charges of rape of a 12-year-old girl in Dobsonville, Soweto.

Carolina, Mpumalanga – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the life imprisonment sentence handed down by the Carolina Magistrates’ Court to a 23-year-old man for the rape of his 16-year-old niece. The accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the victim from secondary victimisation, was sentenced following an incident that occurred on 5 February 2023 in Silobela, Carolina. The victim and the accused, who are related, resided in separate homes.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the judgment delivered by the Pretoria High Court, where Obvious Lindokuhle Magudulela (32) was found guilty of premeditated murder, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The charges relate to the fatal shooting of taxi manager Jan Njomo and the attempted murder of Kgomotso Mokwena.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of 12 years’ direct imprisonment handed down by the Mtubatuba Regional Court to a 35-year-old man following his conviction on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (assault GBH). The offence was committed in December 2024 in the Nkanini Reserve, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment handed down by the Pretoria High Court to Matsobane Phineas Mashaba (28) from Hercules. Mashaba was convicted of the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Shaunice Maralize Phite. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life and five years’ imprisonment handed down to a 28-year-old woman by the Madadeni Regional Court, after she pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, to raping and displaying pornographic material to her brother who was eight years old when the offences began. The offences took place in the Osizweni area.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the conviction of Bellermine Chatunga Mugabe (28) and his co-accused, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze (33), in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. The matter has been postponed to 24 April 2026 for sentencing proceedings.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentencing of Sbusiso Khumalo (39) and Sihle Bright Mnguni (42) to an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment by the Scottburgh Regional Court, following their conviction on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. On 09 September 2023, Khumalo and Mnguni robbed a spice shop in the Umzinto area on two separate occasions.

Bloemfontein, Free State – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) commends the prosecution team and investigators from the South African Police Service for securing a substantial custodial sentence in a case involving essential infrastructure theft. Braam Bothma (21) was sentenced to 20 years’ direct imprisonment by the Bloemfontein Regional Court following multiple convictions related to the theft and damage of essential infrastructure in the Noordhoek area.

Kuruman, Northern Cape – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentencing of two brothers in the Kuruman Regional Court for serious sexual offences. On 16 April 2026, the court sentenced Omphile Thamage (29) and Keolopile Thamage (29), both from Bankhara, to life imprisonment each for rape. Omphile Thamage was additionally sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for attempted rape.