The Pretoria High Court in South Africa has sentenced ser!al rap!st Nkosinathi Emmanuel Phakathi, 40, to 42 life terms plus 791 years and 6 months of direct imprisonment.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced on Friday, October 4, 2024, that the court declared Phakathi unfit to possess a firearm and mandated his inclusion in both the National Register for S*xual Offenders and the National Child Protection Register.
Additionally, the judge ordered that the victims be notified when Phakathi is considered for parole, allowing them to present their views.
Phakathi was found guilty of 90 counts of r*pe, 4 counts of compelled r*pe, 3 counts of forcing a child to witness a s*xual act, 43 counts of k!dnapping, 2 counts of assa*lt, and 4 counts of theft on November 8, 2022.
His crimes took place in and around Ekurhuleni from June 2012 until his arrest in March 2021. Most of his victims were school-going children, with ages ranging from 9 to 44.
Initially facing 203 charges, the state withdrew 55 minor charges. Phakathi pleaded guilty to 148 charges, with his plea statement read in court.
He targeted victims while they were commuting to or from school or work and even assa*lted some in their homes. Posing as an electrician, he would gain entry and commit his crimes, sometimes in the presence of children and occasionally forcing young boys to assa*lt female friends.
Phakathi was apprehended and linked to several offenses through DNA evidence and a modus operandi linkage report. Warrant Officer Tlala John Mokoena of the South African Police Service investigated 96 dockets.
During sentencing, Phakathi’s legal representative requested leniency, citing the 3 years and 6 months he spent in custody and a leg amputation sustained during his arrest, arguing he was no longer capable of committing such offenses.
Prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers countered that Phakathi’s offenses were severely serious, highlighting both the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on victims. She emphasized his lack of remorse and that his guilty plea resulted only from overwhelming evidence against him.
Victim impact statements were read, wherein victims recounted the lasting effects of the assa*lts. One victim, robbed of her innocence, could no longer take part in a virg!nity testing ceremony.
Acting Judge Lesego Makolomakwe concurred with the prosecution, observing Phakathi’s lack of rem*rse and deeming him beyond rehabilitation. She stressed the court’s duty to protect society from such offenders.
The NPA welcomed the sentences, expressing hope they would reinforce the seriousness with which se*ual offenses are treated. They also commended the dedication of Warrant Officer Mokoena, whose diligent investigation led to Phakathi’s conviction and sentencing.