25-Year Imprisonment for Kroonstad Rapist

KROONSTAD – The Kroonstad Regional Court has delivered a 25-year prison sentence for the rape of a minor, demonstrating the justice system’s stringent stance on sexual crimes.

According to South African Police Service (SAPS), on Monday, 03 April 2017, Thabo Mofokeng, now 47, encountered a 13-year-old girl walking through bushes on her way to town. Mofokeng forcibly raped her and evaded capture until recently. Detective Warrant Officer Elizabeth Mounton led a thorough investigation that resulted in Mofokeng’s arrest on Friday, 07 April 2023.

Initially granted bail, Mofokeng failed to attend subsequent court hearings until located at a correctional institution. On Tuesday, 24 October 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for rape. The case underscores the tenacity of law enforcement agencies in pursuing justice for victims of sexual violence, regardless of the time elapsed.