FREE STATE – The Bethlehem Regional Court has officially sentenced 36-year-old Tshidiso Mofokeng to life imprisonment for the rape of his former partner, concluding a severe gender-based violence case with the highest level of judicial accountability.
Testimony presented during the proceedings detailed that the ordeal began on 08 December 2025. Mofokeng encountered the victim as she walked from a nearby tavern and persuaded her to accompany him to his residence. Once there, the court heard that the victim was subjected to continuous assaults and repeated violations over a three-day period.
Her captivity came to an end on the third day when she successfully drew attention to her plight by signaling for help through a window. Authorities responded to her distress, rescued her from the residence, and immediately transported her to a local hospital for medical care and evaluation.
Following the rescue, a formal rape docket was registered at the Reitz Police Station. The critical investigation was spearheaded by Constable Khehle Mosikili of the Bethlehem Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit, who meticulously gathered evidence and completed the investigative process.
During the trial, Prosecutor Mr Jaco Scholtz effectively presented and concluded the State’s case against the accused. On Tuesday, 18 August 2026, Magistrate Monde Matsaya presided over the sentencing phase, handing down the life term to Mofokeng. The ruling underscores the court’s commitment to delivering decisive consequences for perpetrators of intimate partner violence and sexual offenses.
