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. 

12 December 2025 

SKUKUZA REPEAT OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR RHINO POACHING-RELATED OFFENCES 

11 DECEMBER 2025 

TWO APARTHEID-ERA POLICE OFFICERS CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF CAIPHUS NYOKA REMANDED IN CUSTODY 

11 DECEMBER 2025 

MAMELODI MAN SENTENCED TO THREE LIFE TERMS FOR RAPING NIECES PRETORIA

11 December 2025 

SKUKUZA POACHER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS’ DIRECT IMPRISONMENT 

The Skukuza Regional Court has today sentenced Bethuel Baloyi (28) to 16 years’ direct imprisonment for a series of poaching-related offences committed in 2020. He was convicted on multiple counts, including trespassing, killing two rhinos, possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm to commit an offence, possession of live ammunition, conspiracy to commit an offence, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

11 DECEMBER 2025 

LIFE TERM FOR BITYI MAN WHO KIDNAPPED AND RAPED DISABLED WOMAN 

11 DECEMBER 2025 

MEN GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING PASTOR 

The Ngwelezane Regional Court has sentenced two men: Phakamani Eugene Khumalo (33) and Sandile Mthokozisi Mabuyakhulu (33) to life and 11 years and 6 months imprisonment for the murder of a pastor in June 2023 in the Enseleni area. The deceased, John Funa Myaka, was a pastor, a member of African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), and a ward councillor at the time of his death.