The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed four Life sentences handed down to Justice Philani Nkosi (35) for multiple rapes and murder of a minor.
Nkosi was sentenced on Tuesday 29 November 2022 by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela.
The sentence could not have come at a better time than during the ’16 days of Activism for no violence against women and children’ which began four days back (on 25 November 2022). The court heard how Nkosi terrorized women in the area of Kabokweni outside Nelspruit before he was arrested by the police.
It is sad that on 31 August 2014 the accused (Nkosi) pounced on his first victim who was 12-year-old.
The little girl is said to have informed her mother in the evening of that fateful day that she was going to a nearby shop and was soon going to be back. However the girl never returned home but she was later found dead in the nearby bushes the following morning.
Police were called to the scene and the parents identified her (but her identity cannot be revealed as the Court Order dictates). A case was opened and an investigation ensued. It was later discovered that the little girl was raped as well.
On 19 March 2016 during the night, a 30 year old woman was traveling alone on her way home from work when she came across the accused who was in the company of his fellows. It is said that the accused and his accomplices robbed her of cash as well as some groceries. The accused thereafter dragged her to the nearby bushes where he stabbed and raped her. The incident was also reported to the police at Kabokweni where a case of rape with an additional charge of robbery was opened.
Then on 8 December 2018 during the night, a 29-year old woman went to visit a male friend however whilst on her way, she came across the accused who promised to take her to a tavern after claiming to have seen her male friend. This was just his tricks and he dragged her instead to the nearby bushes and raped her. The following day the woman went to the clinic for treatment and eventually a rape case was reported to the Kabokweni SAPS.
The three cases were assigned to be investigated by the Kanyamazane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. A thorough investigation was done by the team which led to the arrest of the suspect on 13 November 2022 at Bhuga in Kabokweni. The accused was charged for the said incidents then he went on trial which started on Monday, 21 November 2022.
He was then found guilty on Monday 28 November 2022 hence his sentence today (29 November 2022) as follows:
On a count of rape of a 12-year-old girl, he was given a life sentence and for the count of murder of the girl, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Meanwhile for the rape count of a 29-year-old woman, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment. On the count of robbery aggravating involving a 30 year old woman, the accused was also sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and for the rape count involving the same victim (30-year-old), the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The accused was further declared unfit to work with children and his name will be entered into the Register of sexual offenders. He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
The sentences will not run concurrently.
The sentencing was warmly welcomed by the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela who has been very vocal and concerned about issues of Gender-Based-Violence and Femicide in the society. “We are so overwhelmed and excited about the sentence that the court handed down to the accused. Today women and children will sleep better knowing that one of the perpetrators is behind bars for a very long time. This should send a clear message to others who have not yet been caught that, the net is slowly closing in for them. Thanks to the Investigation team, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary for the excellent work done. Keep it up,” said Lieutenant General Manamela.
