The Free State Crime Detection unit has welcomed a substantial sentence handed down by the Hennenman Regional Court against 40-year-old Katleho Kganare, who received a total of 46 years’ imprisonment for a series of violent crimes, including rape, attempted murder, and the assault of an infant.
Kganare’s criminal conduct, which spanned multiple incidents between 2022 and 2025, demonstrated a severe and continuous pattern of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and domestic abuse.
Chronology of Offences
February 2025 Inciden
In February 2025, Kganare forcibly entered the residence of his ex-girlfriend’s current partner. Armed with a knife, he threatened to kill the couple before stabbing his ex-girlfriend multiple times. In an act described by prosecutors as a horrific display of cruelty, Kganare forced the victims to perform sexual acts at knifepoint, raped his ex-girlfriend in front of her partner, and video-called friends to broadcast the assault. He subsequently distributed images and videos of the attack online without the victims’ consent. Following an intensive investigation, he was swiftly traced, arrested, and charged.
2023 Assault on Infant
Further investigations linked Kganare to earlier cases. In 2023, he punched his then-girlfriend in the face while she was holding their 11-month-old baby. He then assaulted the infant, causing severe facial injuries and swelling. During police questioning, Kganare stated that he “wished the child could die.”
November 2022 Incident
In November 2022, Kganare held an Okapi knife to the throat of his one-year-old child to prevent the mother from leaving him. Police intervened and safely rescued the child.
2022 Restaurant Altercation
In a separate incident in 2022 at a restaurant in Ventersburg, Kganare stabbed his girlfriend and a friend with a broken bottle during an altercation.
Investigation and Prosecution
The convictions followed overwhelming evidence gathered through meticulous police work conducted by Warrant Officer Mia Engelbrecht of the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and Warrant Officer Xolani Madalane of the Hennenman Detectives. The National Prosecuting Authority, represented by Prosecutor Me Labuschagne, successfully prosecuted the matter. Faced with the evidence, Kganare pleaded guilty to all counts.
Sentencing Breakdown
The Hennenman Regional Court sentenced Kganare as follows:
Count 1: Housebreaking with intent to murder and attempted murder – 15 years’ imprisonment
Count 2: Attempt to commit a sexual offence – 7 years’ imprisonment (3 years suspended for 5 years)
Count 3: Sexual intimidation – 3 years’ imprisonment
Count 4: Rape – 10 years’ imprisonment
Counts 5 & 6: Harmful disclosure of pornography – 3 years’ imprisonment
Count 13: Assault – 5 years’ imprisonment (3 years suspended for 5 years)
Count 14: Assault – 3 years’ imprisonment (wholly suspended for 5 years)
While the accumulated sentence totals 46 years, the court ordered several sentences to run concurrently. Consequently, Kganare will serve an effective term of 20 years’ direct imprisonment.
