A South African man who was found guilty of 90 counts of rape, including those of girls as young as nine, was sentenced on Friday to 42 life sentences.
Nkosinathi Phakathi, 40, targeted schoolgirls and forced them to watch him carry out rapes in or around Ekurhuleni, East of Johannesburg, between 2012 and 2021.
The Johannesburg High Court sentenced Phakathi to 42 life sentences for various crimes, including rape, kidnapping, theft, and assault. Judge Lesego Makolomakwe delivered the judgment in a case that shocked the nation, stressing the court’s responsibility in imposing sentences for such heinous crimes, especially when they involve young, innocent, defenceless, and vulnerable girls.
Judge Makolomakwe noted that some victims were en route to school and wearing school uniforms, while others were on their way to work. Some victims were sexually violated at their homes in front of family members, and others were confined to secluded areas.
During the ruling, Phakathi, dressed in a grey tracksuit and using crutches, kept his face hidden in his arms and occasionally faced the judge with a sombre expression. He had attempted to flee during his arrest and was shot in the leg by the police.
South Africa grapples with a high rate of violent crime, particularly rape and murder, with data revealing a 0.6 per cent increase in reported rapes between April and June 2024 compared to the same period last year, with 9,309 reported cases.
Women’s rights advocates have criticised the government for not taking sufficient action to address violence against women.
