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Tshwane Parolee Jailed for Life After Raping Nephew and Neighbour’s Son

Published

2 weeks ago

August 21, 2025

Chiraag

Tshwane parolee crime, child rape sentencing, Pretoria court ruling, gender-based violence case, parole failure South Africa, National Register sex offenders, Joburg ETC

A 53-year-old man from Mamelodi East has been handed two life sentences by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for committing unthinkable crimes against children close to him. The conviction casts a harsh light on the failures of the parole system and the harsh realities of gender-based violence in South Africa.

A predator released, then repeats violence

Already convicted of a similar crime in 2008, the man was on parole when he struck again on 12 April 2022. He first lured a 13-year-old neighbour home under the guise of needing help with a door, then raped the boy and threatened to kill him if he made a sound.

Later that day, he abused his own nine-year-old nephew in the house he shared with his sister, the child’s mother. The boy was left bleeding and traumatised.

The unlikely strength of victims and mothers

When the boy’s mother returned from work, her nephew found the courage to tell her what had happened, leading her to immediately report him to the police. The neighbour’s child also came forward once he heard the arrest.

Both boys were taken to the Mamelodi Thuthuzela Care Centre, where they received medical care, counselling, and legal support.

Denial meets undeniable evidence

Despite his claims that his sister fabricated the accusations over a family dispute, the accused’s denials did not hold up. Prosecutor Andries Ntjana presented compelling evidence, noting the man was already on parole for rape and showed no remorse. An appeal for leniency on grounds of his family status was firmly dismissed.

Magistrate Lynn Pillay emphasised the abuse was especially heinous because it targeted children who trusted him. She sentenced him to two life terms, placed him on the National Register for Sex Offenders, and ruled he is unfit to work with children or own firearms.

Victim impact statements further revealed the lasting emotional harm and broken trust these crimes inflicted.

A system pushed to its limits

For many South Africans, this case underscores a chilling question: how did someone with a previous conviction gain entry into a community again? Social media has erupted with anger; users are demanding reforms to parole processes and better protection for children.

Justice paired with urgency

Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, said the sentence sends a stark warning: gender-based crimes, especially against children, will be prosecuted relentlessly. For the victims, it is justice, but the greater challenge remains: safeguarding the vulnerable and reforming a system that let a predator return to harm again.