FREE STATE — A 25-year prison term has been imposed on a Ficksburg man for raping a 17-year-old learner. The severe punishment follows the conviction of 28-year-old Suhla Nkola, who targeted the teenager in the Meqheleng area while she was getting ready for school.
The harrowing ordeal unfolded on the morning of 20 November 2023. At approximately 06:40, the victim was bathing and getting ready to head to her local school to write her examinations. Nkola, who lived nearby, knocked on her door and requested to use her cellular phone to access his social media accounts. Trusting her neighbor, the teenager handed over the device and returned to the bathroom to complete her morning routine.
Just minutes later, Nkola walked into her bedroom. He began inappropriately touching the minor and demanded to sleep with her. When she resisted, he forced her onto the bed, raped her, and subsequently fled the premises.
Despite the severe trauma of the attack, the victim immediately reached out to her mother. Demonstrating immense resilience, she proceeded to write her examinations under the distressing circumstances. As soon as her tests were concluded, she went to the local police station to report the assault, leading to Nkola’s swift arrest and the filing of formal rape charges.
The case was meticulously handled by Detective Sergeant Kobeli, operating out of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Ficksburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. The dedicated investigation ensured the evidence was solidified for the courtroom.
The judicial process culminated recently when the court returned a guilty verdict against Nkola on Thursday, 3 July 2026. Three days later, on Monday, 6 July 2026, he was officially sentenced to 25 years of direct imprisonment.
