Accused Mofihli Alloycyas Tshabalala(38) of Gelukwaarsts in Maokeng, Kroonstad, was finally found guilty and sentenced for his heinous crimes that he committed against elderly women in the Kroonstad area.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lt. General Baile Motswenyane applauded the extensive role played by investigating officer, Warrant Officer Derrick De Gouveia, working together with NPA’s office led by prosecutor Ntabeseng Motshabi, by ensuring that Magistrate Sibongile Matambeka closed the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children Abuse on a high note by cutting serial rapist Mofihli’s tracks of rapes that he committed from 2012 till 2019 against elderly women in his area. Mofihli was linked to all these cases through DNA.
On the first incident, the court heard how on 19 July 2017, at about 10:00, the 78-year-old victim was on her way home from her cattle near Maokeng. The next moment she was approached by an unknown man who pulled her to a tree in the open field. He took out a knife and told her to keep quiet or he would kill her. He instructed the complainant to undress, and then he raped her. After the incident, he left her there and ran away.
In a separate incident, the 70-year-old told the court that on 21 June 2012, at about 11:30, she was with her friend on their way home after they chopped wood near Maokeng. The next moment, they were approached by an unknown man. The suspect tried to fight with her friend, but the friend managed to run away. He then took out a knife and informed the complainant that she needed to be quiet or he would kill her. He instructed her to undress, and then he raped her and left her there.
In the third separate case, a 60-year-old victim testified how, on 28 April 2016, at about 13:00, she was with her aunt at Gelukwaarsts cemetery. The next moment, an unknown man approached them, and he had a knife with him. The suspect instructed her aunt to sit down. He informed the complainant to undress and keep quiet or he would kill them. He raped the complainant.
The fourth Maokeng case against Mofihli involved a 65-year-old victim, who testified that she was with her next-door neighbor in the open field near Maokeng, busy cutting grass, on 11 June 2019. The next moment, they were approached by an unknown man. The suspect took out a knife and instructed her neighbor to go away. He forced the complainant to undress herself, and he raped her. He left her there and ran away.
Mofihli Alloycyas Tshabalala was found guilty on 10 December 2025 and sentenced as follows:
Count 1: 10 years imprisonment for Rape
Count 2: 10 years imprisonment for Rape
Count 3: 15 years imprisonment for Robbery
Count 4: 15 years imprisonment for Robbery
Count 5: 10 years imprisonment for Rape
Count 6: Life imprisonment for Rape
Count 7: 15 years imprisonment for Robbery
