Eastern Cape Taxi Conductor Gets 4 Life Terms for Brutal Rapes – Victims Speak Out

Thembelani Mrwetyana, a 26-year-old taxi conductor, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after the Eastern Cape High Court sentenced him to four life terms for rape, plus an additional 42 years for kidnapping and robbery. His crimes were so calculated and brutal that the judge deemed him a permanent danger to society.

For months, Mrwetyana and an accomplice, still at large used their taxi to prey on vulnerable women in Gqeberha. Posing as ordinary commuters, the victims had no idea they were stepping into a nightmare.

A Taxi Ride Turned Horror Story

In October 2021, a young woman boarded what she thought was a regular taxi. But when all other passengers got off, the driver refused to stop. Mrwetyana, the conductor, strangled her, forcing her head between the seats as the driver threatened her with a knife.

They drove her to a remote area, where the men raped her repeatedly, one using a condom, the other refusing. After stealing her belongings, they abandoned her. Bruised and traumatized, she stumbled to a nearby road, where she flagged down a police van.

Just a month later, another woman fell victim to the same predators. Caught in the rain, she hailed their taxi, only to be blindfolded, raped, and robbed before being dumped in a busy area with a chilling command: “Run.”

Justice Served, But Scars Remain

Mrwetyana was finally caught in 2022 after DNA evidence linked him to both attacks. By then, he was already serving 20 years for another violent crime.

In court, the victims’ impact statements laid bare the lasting damage, crippling anxiety, shattered trust, and the haunting fear of taxis. Senior State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein argued that the severity of his crimes demanded the harshest penalty. The judge agreed.

“These were not crimes of impulse, but calculated acts of terror,” the court declared before sentencing him to multiple life terms.

A Warning and a Call for Vigilance

While Mrwetyana will never walk free, his accomplice remains on the run. Police urge anyone with information to come forward.

For women in Gqeberha, the case has reignited fears about taxi safety. Social media reactions have been fierce, with many calling for stricter regulations and better protections for passengers.

“This isn’t just about one monster,” wrote one local activist. “It’s about a system that lets predators operate in plain sight.”

As the survivors rebuild their lives, their bravery in testifying has ensured a dangerous man will never harm another woman again. But for many, the question lingers: How many more are out there?

{Source: IOL}

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