By REGINALD KANYANE
1 December 2025- The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo welcomed recent sentences handed down to rapists in the province between October and November 2025, as the province continues to deal decisively with sexual offenders. Naidoo said in one of the sentences, two life terms and additional 48 years imprisonment were handed down to Elias Thejane (39) by the Klerksdorp Sexual Offences Regional Court for raping three women in Kanana Township, near Orkney between December 2012 and October 2014.
He further said following a lengthy and extensive investigation by the Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation (SECI) unit, the convict was arrested on 9 October 2015. Naidoo added that despite being released on bail, he was re-arrested and sentenced on a separate case of burglary and two counts of rape.
“The crimes were committed in Bothaville in the Free State Province. In Vryburg, Jeffrey Dikgwatle (26 ) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court after raping a woman (24), who was on her way home after attending a party in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg on Saturday night, 6 July 2019.
“Dikgwatle overpowered the victim, threatened her with a knife and dragged her to his shack, where he ultimately raped her several times. In Mahikeng, a suspect (15), on 28 April 2024, raped two boys aged 10 and 9. They were playing in Top Village when he grabbed both boys, dragged them outside the village, tied them up and took turns on raping them at the Zeerust Bridge.
“A passerby appeared and the suspect fled, leaving two boys behind. They managed to untie themselves and reported the matter to their parents. In another separate incident reported on 25 September 2024, the same suspect raped a boy (11),” he said.
Naidoo said the victim’s mother noticed that her son was in pain. He said the victim confirmed that he was on his way to Golfview when the suspect met him on the road, took him to a nearby bridge, then assaulted, strangled and raped him.
“The boy, now 16 years-old, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by the Mmabatho Child Justice Court. Three more accused persons were sentenced to a combined 47 years imprisonment. The crimes were committed in Ikageng, Setlagole and Letlhabile between May 2015 and March 2025.
“It is worth noting that all the accused persons were declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000. In addition, the courts instructed that their names be included in the National Register for sexual offenders,” said Naidoo.
He commended the investigating officers, prosecutors and all other role players for their collaborative efforts that led to securing of these sentences, which he said will send a strong message that sexual offences will not be tolerated. Naidoo said as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the South African Police (SAPS) in the province in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, continues with community outreach programmes, as well as operations to ensure that those commit Gender Based Violence related offences are brought to book.
The Guardian 