A South African court has sentenced serial rapist Nkosinathi Phakathi to 42 life terms for a series of brutal attacks carried out over nearly a decade, including assaults on children as young as nine years old.
The Johannesburg High Court on Friday convicted Phakathi, 40, on 90 counts of rape committed between 2012 and 2021 in and around Ekurhuleni, a municipality east of Johannesburg. The sentence also includes additional charges of kidnapping, theft, and assault.
“The judge agreed that Phakathi had shown no remorse and was beyond rehabilitation,” said Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Phakathi’s crimes were particularly heinous, with prosecutors revealing he sometimes forced children to watch his attacks and coerced young boys to rape their female friends.
“The majority of Phakathi’s victims were schoolchildren, with the youngest being a nine-year-old girl,” Mahanjana said. His oldest victim was 44.
The NPA detailed Phakathi’s methods, saying he often targeted victims traveling to or from work or school. In some cases, he gained entry to homes by posing as an electrician.
Phakathi, who lost a leg after being shot during his 2021 arrest, appeared in court on crutches wearing a blue tracksuit and face mask.
The case highlights South Africa’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, particularly sexual assault. Police data shows more than 9,300 rapes reported between April and June this year, a 0.6% increase from the same period last year.
“This sentencing sends a strong message, but it’s clear we need systemic changes to address the root causes of such violence,” said Dr. Annika Larsen, a criminologist at the University of Cape Town.
