By REGINALD KANYANE
12 June 2026 – The Vryburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) made another breakthrough after three accused were successfully prosecuted and sentenced recently to a combined 38 years imprisonment by the Ganyesa Regional Court. In the first incident, Pako Mahokomabe (29), was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment following a rape case that was reported in Ganyesa on 9 March 2019.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said court heard evidence that at around 11:40pm, the victim (16), went from Tlapeng village to Ellias accompanied by a friend. Tselanyane said whilst at Ellias, she was forcefully taken by the accused to his residence and he raped her twice during the night.
“The following morning, the victim went back to her friend’s home and the matter was reported to the police. Ultimately the suspect was traced and arrested and eventually sentenced. The second incident was reported in Ganyesa on 5 July 2022, at around 8pm.
“The complainant (43) was walking from her uncle’s house at Phaposane village to her home and along the way, she was grabbed by Onkemetse Koos Thembisa (38). Thembisa threatened the victim and ordered her not to make a noise. When the victim screamed for help, he assaulted her,” he said.
Tselanyane further said Thembisa forcefully dragged the victim to an abandoned shop and raped her twice. He added that, after this whole ordeal, the accused then forced the victim to his residential place, where he raped her for the third time.
“In the early hours of the next day, the accused freed the victim, who went home and reported the matter to the police. The accused was traced, arrested and he was released on bail. In 2025, he was again arrested for rape and thereafter bail was denied and he was kept in custody until his sentencing to 18 years imprisonment.
“The last incident was also reported in Ganyesa on 8 March 2024, at around 3am. The victim (17), was walking from a tavern in Tlakgameng village with the accused. As they approached the victim’s home, the accused forced her to walk past her home and, in the process, he also slapped her,” said Tselanyane.
He said the vixtim was then threatened and dragged to Gaarathebe River in the village, where the accused raped her. Tselanyane said the matter was reported to the police and the accused, Baleseng Kakgola (28), was arrested and convicted.
“He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for rape,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, commended the Investigating Officers, Detective Sergeants Tebo Leepile and Mogakolodi Molelekwa, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the sterling job. Naidoo said that sentences will definitely serve as a warning to those who continue to prey on the vulnerable.
“They will eventually face the consequences of their actions and do time in jail,” he said.
The Guardian 