| Successful conviction and sentencing of serial rapist | |
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| Date Published: | 2026/04/02 |
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Media Statement GQEBERHA - The South African Police Service Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, welcomes the successful conviction and sentencing of 42-year-old Thulani Kondile, who was sentenced in the Gqeberha Regional Court on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. Kondile was sentenced to four life terms imprisonment for rape and an additional five years’ for kidnapping. At the time of sentencing, the accused was already serving a life sentence for another rape conviction. The case was initially opened at SAPS Kwadwesi in August 2019, following a traumatic incident in which a 19-year-old victim was kidnapped and raped. It is reported that the victim had boarded a taxi driven by the accused from a shopping mall in Kwadwesi while on her way to purchase electricity. After dropping off other passengers, the accused deviated from the route and drove the victim to bushes near St George’s Beach, where he repeatedly raped her. Through dedicated investigative work, the suspect, who was initially unknown, was positively identified, traced, and arrested in Peddie in March 2021 by Sergeant Kelibone Mokhatla of the Motherwell Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Bail was successfully opposed, and the accused remained in custody until finalisation of the case. Further investigations also linked the accused to other rape cases. The Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, commended the investigating officer, Sergeant Kelibone Mokhatla, for her persistence, professionalism and dedication in ensuring justice for the victim, adding that her meticulous investigation and unwavering resolve played a critical role in securing the conviction and removing a dangerous offender from society. SAPS remains committed to combating gender-based violence and ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are brought to justice. Ends
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