By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The Belfast Regional Court has sentenced Sifiso Mokoena(26) to life imprisonment, on Tuesday 8 April 2025, after he was found guilty of raping a 40-year-old woman.
Mokoena was reportedly arrested on 28 July 2020, two days after he raped the victim at gunpoint while she was collecting firewood in the bushes at Waterval Boven on 26 July 2020.
Mpumalanga spokesperson for the South African Police Service(SAPS), Lt-Col Jabu Ndubane, said a case was opened and assigned to a team of investigators from FCS Unit(Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences).
Lt-Col Ndubane said Mokoena made several court appearances since 2020 and was denied bail by the court until his conviction on 8 April 2025.
“ Mokoena was sentenced to life imprisonment, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court ordered for the immediate search and seizure of his competency, certificates, licence, authorisation, and permits issued to him,” said Lt-Col Ndubane.
The hefty sentence meted out against Mokoena was welcomed by the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner in Mpumalanga, Major-General(Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi who also applauded the detectives for securing justice for the victim.
“ Such individuals must be removed from society to protect our communities and also we are encouraged by the sentence handed down to this suspect. We hope that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider emulating the action of the accused person,” said General Mkhwanazi.
