- Severe Sentencing for Taxi Conductor: Thembelani Mrwetyana received four life terms plus additional sentences for multiple crimes including rape, robbery, and kidnapping, reflecting the gravity of his offenses.
- Details of the 2021 Attacks: Mrwetyana’s two attacks involved luring women onto taxis, where he and an accomplice assaulted, raped, and robbed them, with the first incident involving strangulation and non-consensual rape.
- Previous Convictions and DNA Evidence: In 2023, Mrwetyana was convicted for separate crimes in 2022, and DNA evidence linked him to the 2021 rape cases, leading to the latest sentencing.
The High Court of South Africa, sitting in the Eastern Cape Division in Gqeberha, has sentenced 26-year-old taxi conductor Thembelani Mrwetyana to four life terms for rape, alongside multiple additional sentences for robbery and kidnapping. The case stems from two separate attacks in 2021, where Mrwetyana and an unidentified co-perpetrator used a taxi to lure, assault, and rob unsuspecting women.
In the first incident, on 8 October 2021, a woman boarded a taxi in Gqeberha during her morning commute. Once other passengers had exited, she was left alone with Mrwetyana and the driver. When she requested to be dropped off, the driver ignored her. Mrwetyana strangled her and pinned her down between the front seats while the driver threatened her with a sharp object. They drove to a secluded area, where the driver retrieved condoms from the dashboard before cutting off her clothes and raping her. Mrwetyana then raped her without using protection. The men stole her belongings before abandoning her. The survivor managed to find help by flagging down a police vehicle and reporting the crime.
The second attack occurred on 27 November 2021. Another woman, travelling to work in the rain, boarded a taxi occupied only by Mrwetyana and the driver. Instead of taking her to her destination, they drove onto the freeway. Mrwetyana moved to the back seat, blindfolded her, and both men raped her. She was later dropped off in a public area and instructed to run. Her phone, ID, bank cards, work items, and house keys were stolen.
Mrwetyana was initially convicted in 2023 for separate crimes committed in May 2022, including kidnapping, rape, sexual intimidation, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. During that investigation, DNA evidence was collected and later matched him to the two 2021 rape cases. He is currently serving a 20-year sentence for the 2022 conviction.
Following the latest charges, Mrwetyana entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State, represented by Senior State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein. Both survivors submitted detailed victim impact statements, outlining the trauma and long-term effects of the assaults. The court declared Mrwetyana unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that his new sentences run concurrently with his current prison term.
The judge emphasised the gravity of the offences and the lasting harm caused to the victims, describing the sentences as fair and appropriate under the circumstances.
The identity and whereabouts of Mrwetyana’s accomplice from the 2021 incidents remain unknown. Police have urged members of the public to assist in bringing the second suspect to justice.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence. He stated the importance of forensic science, particularly DNA analysis, in linking offenders to past crimes and securing convictions. Madolo reaffirmed the National Prosecuting Authority’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence, saying that the outcome in this matter reflects strong cooperation and dedication from law enforcement and prosecution teams.
