Justice has prevailed for three men, Lungile Nkambule, Welile Mazwi and Gift Lebogang Mokoena, as they were sentenced today to more than 20 years each for a case “dupped as taxi rape” case committed at Booysens in 2017. During November 2018, Lebogang Mokoena, a serial rapist, was sentenced to 13 life terms and 340 years imprisonment for other cases committed at Booysens, Meadowlands, Kliptown, Johannesburg Central, Rosebank and Alberton. Criminal proceedings are still continuing on other cases against Mazwi who was linked with CCTV while using the victim’s bank card in a Florida rape case.
Investigations on the taxi rape cases were escalated to Provincial level after it was established that there was a high prevalence on serial rapes and most of the victims were raped by taxi drivers. Twenty-six (26) cases had been registered at the time. There were also similarities regarding the incidents of rape, kidnappings and robbery of the victims’ valuable goods. It is where it became clear that serial rapists were involved. The suspects were arrested through forensic evidence, identification parades, identification of victims’ properties and information received from members of the community.
Nothile Dlamini and Tsepo Masiya are already serving their sentences after they were both sentenced to more than 60 years imprisonment during May and November 2018. Manqoba Ntsika Mdluli, Sphiwe Dlamini and Gerald Vusi Hlatshwaya are still on trial.
