Ga Mphethi’s rapist sentenced to 10 years in jail

GA MPHETHI

Burgersfort SAPS’s  hardworking cop Sergeant Jacob Mojalefa has secured another conviction. The accused, Katlego Mphethi (21), was convicted and sentenced to effective 10 years imprisonment by the Burgersfort Regional Court on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, for the rape of an 18-year-old victim.

The court noted that during 21 August 2021 an 18-year-old victim known to the accused, was returning from church services at Ga-Mphethi when she heard footsteps running towards her, and when she looked back, she saw the accused, Katlego Mphethi.

“The victim was carrying a bag with a blanket. The suspect took the blanket and covered her face and tripped her, causing her to fall. They then fought, and he overpowered her, physically assaulting her, until she passed out. He then dragged her to a nearby dam and raped her,” revealed Limpopo SAPS spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
Afterwards, the accused fled the scene. 

Ledwaba said the victim was able to report the matter to her mother, who subsequently took her to the police to open a case.

The matter was transferred to the Burgersfort Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit (FCS) for further investigations, and then the docket was allocated to Mojalefa, who, through his investigative skills , arrested the accused on 13 September 2021.

The accused was later released on R1000 bail, and attended court until he was found guilty on 22 January 2025.

The accused was convicted of rape and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

 Provincial commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing and commended the investigating officer, Sergeant  Mojalefa, for his tireless efforts that resulted in the conviction.