A South African man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for the violent kidnapping and rape of a couple in Northern Free State.
The attack occurred on March 3, 2022, in Edenville, a small farming town in the Fezile Dabi District. The perpetrator, 28-year-old Thabang Jacob Masike, confronted the couple while they were asleep, armed with a panga—a large knife used both as a tool and a weapon. Prosecutors said Masike accused the man’s sister of infecting him with HIV before forcing the woman to tie up her boyfriend with a jersey and further restraining him with an electric cord. The man was assaulted with the panga and taken to another room, while Masike abducted the woman and her 18-month-old baby, raping her in a nearby field. The boyfriend eventually freed himself and escaped, and the woman reported the incident to authorities the following day, leading to Masike’s arrest.
During the trial at Kroonstad Regional Court, Masike claimed the sexual act was consensual, a defense that was rejected. He was convicted on all charges, including malicious injury to property, assault, intimidation, kidnapping, and rape. The court handed down a total sentence of 32 years without the possibility of parole. His name will also be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), confirmed that a Victim Impact Statement detailed the severe emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the survivor. The NPA praised the sentence as a reflection of the seriousness of the crimes and a stern warning that gender-based violence will not be tolerated.
Senokoatsane added that the NPA remains committed to prosecuting sexual offences rigorously, ensuring justice for victims, and protecting their constitutional rights to dignity, freedom, and privacy.
