MAHIKENG, NORTH WEST – A man (35) has been sentenced to an effective 16 years direct imprisonment after he threatened a 24-year-old woman with a knife on her way home from work, raped her and robbed her of her belongings.
Ditlhoriso Machoba was found guilty by the court for sexual offences in the Molopo Regional Court of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence on Monday, nine November 2026.
The incident occurred on 10 May 2021 when the victim was walking home after work. Machoba, who was unknown to her at the time, threatened her with a knife and dragged her to a remote area where he raped her and subsequently robbed her of her belongings.
Although Machoba covered most of his face, the woman was able to identify him by scars on his face.
After the attack, she told her family and a community member about the incident. When she described her attacker, the community member indicated that he knew the man and knew where he lived.
The woman called the police. Officers visited the indicated residence and recovered her stolen belongings there. Machoba was then arrested.
Accused denies guilt
Machoba pleaded not guilty and his defence maintained through his legal representation that he had not committed the crimes.
The state prosecutor, advocate Kefentse Diseko, however presented evidence that linked Machoba to the crimes. The evidence was supported by consistent statements from witnesses.
The state also submitted a victim impact statement that the woman had prepared with the help of Khensani Baloyi, a victim support officer at the Thuthuzela Care Centre.
The statement set out the deep and lasting impact of the rape on her life.
Effective 16 years in prison for rape and robbery
The court sentenced Machoba to eight years imprisonment for rape and ten years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court ordered that two years of the robbery sentence be served concurrently with the rape sentence. This means that Machoba must serve an effective 16 years in prison.
He has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm and the court ordered that his details be entered in the National Register for Sexual Offenders.
NPA welcomes sentence
Dr. Rachel Makhari, the North West's Director of Public Prosecutions, said the sentence reflected the seriousness with which the state treats sexual crimes and the consequences for those who violate the rights and dignity of others.
She commended advocate Diseko and Detective Constable Moemedi Lefifi of the South African Police Service for their thorough investigation and dedication to ensuring justice is done.
The NPA reaffirmed that the prosecution of perpetrators of gender-based violence and sexual crimes remains a priority.
Source: National Prosecuting Authority, North West, nine November 2026.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
