Justice Philani Nkosi (35) was sentenced to four life terms behind bars for multiple rapes and the murder of a minor. Nkosi was sentenced on Tuesday November 29 by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela.
The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the court heard how Nkosi terrorised women in KaBokweni before being arrested by police.
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It was testified that on August 31, the accused pounced on his first victim, a 12-year-old. The little girl informed her mother in the evening that she was going to a nearby shop, hoping to be back soon. However, the girl never returned home and was found dead in nearby bushes the following morning. A case of murder and rape was opened and a police investigation ensued.
On March 19, 2016 at night, a 30-year-old woman was travelling alone on her way home from work when she came across the accused in the company of other men. It is said that the accused and his accomplices robbed her of cash as well as some groceries. Nkosi dragged her to nearby bushes where he stabbed and raped her. The incident was also reported to the police at KaBokweni and another case of rape with an additional charge of robbery was then opened.
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The next attack occurred on December 8, 2018 during the night. A 29-year-old woman went to visit a male friend and on her way came across the accused who promised to take her to a tavern after claiming to have seen her male friend. Instead he dragged the woman to nearby bushes before raping her. The following day the victim went to the clinic for treatment and another rape case was reported to KaBokweni SAPS.
The three cases were assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. A thorough investigation was undertaken by the team which led to Nkosi’s arrest on November 13 at Bhuga in KaBokweni.
The accused was charged with the various crimes when he went on trial on Monday 21 November. He was found guilty on all charges on Monday and sentenced on Tuesday November 29.
