A notorious serial rapist, Malibongwe Ncokolo has been sentenced to 7 life terms and 300 years imprisonment by the Bisho High Court in Eastern Cape, South Africa on Friday, November 6.
44-year-old
Ncokolo, whose arrest on 07 June 2017 signalled an end of reign of terror for
many girls and women in Mdantsane, is
alleged to have been responsible for repeated rape onslaught with impunity
since 2014 until his arrest in 2017.
His arrest
came after he had attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl on 6 June 2020. Much to
his surprise, the strong and brave young woman managed to kick him with both
feet on his chest and he rolled down a steep incline. The young girl managed to
run and call for help.
The suspect
was chased by a group of community members but managed to escape. A day after
his lucky escape, he was apprehended by community members at his home. Police
came just in time and arrested him. His buccal sample was taken and sent to
Cape Town laboratory and he was linked to several rape cases around Mdantsane
area.
His trial
commenced in September 2020 with 140 witnesses and 22 victims and rape
survivors. Despite overwhelming evidence presented against him, he still
pleaded not guilty.
Twelve of the
22 survivors are minors aged between 9 and 15. It is alleged that he monitored
their movements from home to school and back from the local car wash where he
was employed. He would then prey on them while they were passing a bushy
uninhabited area on their way to school.
He was
charged for 41 counts as follows;
1. Murder - 3
counts
2. Rape - 19
counts
3. Theft - 3
counts
4. Sexual
assault - 3 counts
5. Assault to
do grievous bodily harm - 9 counts
6. Assault -
4 counts
Judge Belinda
Stretcher who was presiding over the trial sentenced Nokolo on 3 November 2020
at Bisho High court as follows:-
• Count 1, 3,
5, 7, 9 Rape charges -20 years
• Count 9
Repeated rape- 25 years.
• Count 10
rape of 13 year old
• Count 11
rape and murder-two life sentences taken as one
• Count 12
Rape 20 years
• Count 14
Rape of 14 years old minor
• Count 15
Rape - 20 years
• Count 18,
19, 20 & 21 where four minors were involved-life sentence
• Count 23
Rape of 13 years old minor-life
• Count 25
Rape - 20 years
• Count 26
Rape of 11 year old- life
• Count 30
& 32 Rape 20 years each
• Count 34
Theft 5 years
• Count 35
murder- 25 years
• Count 37
Murder life
• Count 38
Rape - 20 years
• Count 39
Rape of 14 years old minor-life
• Count 40
Theft -5 years
A statement
issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner Eastern Cape, said the
police detective's good cooperation with prosecution and the courts resulted in
the excellent arrest, successful conviction and sentencing by the judge
The two
detectives who were responsible for the investigations were also praised by
senior police management. Sgt Sizwe Gaika attached to Provincial FCS (Family
Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses investigation unit, an award
winning detective who has meticulous attention to detail was responsible for
the arrest and investigation of all the rape and sexual offenses cases.
WO Phumelele
Tile attached to Mdantsane SAPS detectives was responsible for investigation of
three murder cases. Tile is an experienced detective with over 25 year’s
investigation in murder and robbery environment. He was nominated as a
detective of the year in 2018.
Acting
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Major General Thembisile Patekile
expressing his delight for role played by detectives said:
"Both
detectives' co-operation and sterling work resulted in the successful
prosecution of the accused. The courts undoubtedly convicted and sentenced the
accused on the basis of sufficient evidence and quality investigation as well
as great team effort between the high court and prosecution," he added.
The sentence
will go down as one of the landmark sentences for one person in the province.
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