A 40-year-old man with a documented history of gender-based violence has been sentenced by the Hennenman Regional Court to a cumulative 46 years’ imprisonment for multiple violent crimes committed between 2022 and 2025. Katleho Kganare will serve an effective 20 years behind bars after the court ordered several sentences to run concurrently.
The sentencing follows Kganare’s guilty plea to all charges, supported by comprehensive evidence compiled by the Free State Crime Detection unit, the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, and the Hennenman Detectives, in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority.
 Pattern of Violence Across Three Years
Prosecutors outlined a disturbing pattern of abuse linking four distinct incidents:
February 2025: Home Invasion and Sexual Assaul
Kganare forcibly entered the home of his ex-girlfriend’s current partner while armed with a knife. He threatened both occupants with death, stabbed his ex-girlfriend multiple times, and compelled the couple to perform sexual acts under threat of violence. He raped his ex-girlfriend in the presence of her partner and live-streamed portions of the assault via video call to friends. After the attack, he distributed non-consensual images and videos of the incident online. He was subsequently located, arrested, and charged following a focused investigation.
2023: Assault on Mother and Infant
In a separate 2023 incident, Kganare struck his then-girlfriend in the face while she held their 11-month-old child. He then assaulted the infant, inflicting severe facial injuries and swelling. During police interrogation, Kganare admitted he “wished the child could die.”
November 2022: Threat Against Toddler
Earlier that year, in November 2022, Kganare prevented his partner from leaving by holding an Okapi knife to the throat of their one-year-old child. Law enforcement intervened and safely extracted the child from the situation.
2022: Ventersburg Restaurant Stabbing
In another 2022 episode at a Ventersburg restaurant, Kganare used a broken bottle to stab his girlfriend and a friend during a dispute.
Law Enforcement and Prosecution Team
The successful prosecution resulted from coordinated efforts by:
Warrant Officer Mia Engelbrecht, Thabong FCS Unit
Warrant Officer Xolani Madalane, Hennenman Detectives
Prosecutor Me Labuschagne, National Prosecuting Authority
Their work established an evidentiary record that led Kganare to enter guilty pleas across all counts.
Court-Imposed Sentences
The Hennenman Regional Court handed down the following sentences per count:
Count 1: Housebreaking with intent to murder and attempted murder – 15 years’ imprisonment
Count 2: Attempt to commit a sexual offence – 7 years’ imprisonment (3 years suspended for 5 years)
Count 3: Sexual intimidation – 3 years’ imprisonment
Count 4: Rape – 10 years’ imprisonment
Counts 5 & 6: Harmful disclosure of pornography – 3 years’ imprisonment
Count 13: Assault – 5 years’ imprisonment (3 years suspended for 5 years)
Count 14: Assault – 3 years’ imprisonment (wholly suspended for 5 years)
Though the aggregate sentence totals 46 years, concurrent sentencing provisions reduce the effective custodial term to 20 years. The Free State Crime Detection unit has publicly endorsed the court’s decision as a significant outcome in the fight against gender-based violence and domestic abuse.
