Serial rapist sentenced to life imprisonment plus 110 years

A serial rapist who terrorised people in Piet Retief in 2008 but was not arrested until 2020 after being linked to crimes through DNA evidence will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Nkosikhona Ntshalintshali, 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment and 110 years in prison by the Breyten High Court in Mpumalanga on Thursday.

Ntshalintshali pleaded guilty to the crimes and was found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of burglary with criminal intent.

Residents of Piet Retief terrorised since 2008

Monica Nyuswa, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said Ntshalintshali terrorised residents in Mafred Homes, Phola Park and Kempville Magadeni. Between November 2008 and June 2009, he broke into homes, threatened victims with a knife and robbed them.

Ntshalintshali also attacked victims. Some were attacked on the streets and then dragged to remote areas.

In one incident on 11 November 2008, a woman was walking near Mafred Homes when she encountered Ntshalintshali, who demanded a mobile phone before dragging her to a railway embankment and raping her.

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The victim did not know him, but reported the incident to the police.

In another incident on 5 June 2009, Ntshalintshali and two unknown accomplices arrested a man and a woman walking on the street in Kempville Magadeni district.

“The accused and his accomplice demanded the victims’ mobile phones and attacked the man with a knobkierie, injuring his leg and taking away his shoes. In addition, the accused threatened the woman with a knife and all three took turns raping her and subsequently fled the scene with her clothes,” Nyuswa said.

DNA evidence used to arrest Ntshalintshali

A police investigation eventually led to Ntshalintshali’s arrest based on DNA evidence linked to his crimes.

“The violence used in these crimes was so great that it cannot be brushed aside and allowed to go unpunished. The accused was left with no choice but to plead guilty as the evidence against him was overwhelming,” Nyuswa said.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment and 110 years in prison.

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“This judgment is a testament to our commitment to combating the scourge of gender-based violence in our communities and provides closure for victims and their families,” said Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Sonja Ntuli.