Court Sentences Serial Rapist To 42 Life Terms, Additional 791 Years, 6 Months Direct Imprisonment Over 92 Counts of Rape
By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde
A Pretoria High Court in South Africa has sentenced 40-year-old serial rapist, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Phakathi, to 42 life sentences, along with an additional 791 years and 6 months in prison.
As gathered by OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced the verdict on Friday, October 4, 2024, stating that Phakathi has been declared unfit to own a firearm, and his name will be added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders and the National Child Protection Register.
Additionally, the court ruled that Phakathi's victims must be informed when he becomes eligible for parole, so they can voice their concerns.
Phakathi was convicted of 90 counts of rape, 4 counts of forced rape, 3 counts of forcing a child to witness a sexual act, 43 counts of kidnapping, 2 counts of assault, and 4 counts of theft.
These crimes, committed between June 2012 and March 2021 in the Ekurhuleni area, included the rape of victims as young as 9 years old and as old as 44.
Phakathi initially faced 203 charges, but the State withdrew 55 minor ones.
In November 2022, he pleaded guilty to 148 charges. He preyed on victims as they commuted to school or work, or even in their own homes, often pretending to be an electrician.
Some assaults occurred in front of children, and in some cases, he forced others to witness the rapes or participate.
OTN News further gathered that DNA evidence and an operational pattern report linked Phakathi to the crimes, leading to his arrest after 96 cases were investigated by warrant officer Tlala John Mokoena.
During sentencing, Phakathi’s lawyer requested leniency, noting that he had spent over three years in custody and lost a leg during his arrest, making him physically incapable of repeating such crimes.
However, prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers highlighted the gravity of his offences, emphasizing the lasting trauma Phakathi inflicted, especially on children, and noted his lack of remorse.
Acting Judge, Lesego Makolomakwe, sided with the prosecution, affirming that Phakathi showed no remorse and was beyond rehabilitation.
OTN News revealed that the judge upheld the maximum sentences, stating that the courts have a duty to protect society from offenders like Phakathi.
The NPA welcomed the sentence, commending the thorough investigation by warrant officer Mokoena and reaffirming their commitment to taking sexual offences seriously.
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