Latest news with #Fankomo
IOL News
27-04-2025
- IOL News
34-year-old man arrested for allegedly raping girl, 5, in Limpopo
Limpopo police have arrested a 34-year-old scholar transporter was arrested in Mafefe Village in the Malipsdrift for allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl inside the scholar transport. A 34-year-old scholar transporter was arrested in Mafefe Village in the Malipsdrift policing precinct outside Lebowakgomo, Capricorn District for allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl inside the scholar transport. The man was arrested on Thursday police said. According to the Limpopo police, the incident allegedly occurred between January and March 2025 in Mafefe Village. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect is accused of raping the child after picking her up from school. 'He reportedly dropped off other children as usual, and instead of taking the victim straight home, he is accused of raping her inside the vehicle,' Ledwaba said. He said the suspect allegedly threatened the child not to report the incident, but she finally disclosed it to her grandmother during the Easter weekend. Ledwaba said a case of rape was opened which was transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for further investigation. 'The suspect was subsequently arrested on Thursday,' he added. Meanwhile, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo Major General Samuel Manala has condemned the incident, adding that it is shocking how innocent children continue to be tormented by heartless criminals. "We urge parents and guardians to keep supporting their children when they report abuse so that the perpetrators can be arrested and held accountable for their horrendous actions." Manala said. Ledwaba added that the suspect is expected to appear before the Thabamoopo Magistrate's Court soon to face a charge of rape. On Wednesday, IOL News reported that a 39-year-old serial rapist, Gilbert Sibusiso Fankomo has been handed four life sentences for the brutal rape of multiple teenagers. Fankomo received the sentences from the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli stated that the sentence follows Fankomo's conviction on multiple counts of rape involving vulnerable teenage victims spanning from April 2009 to March 2022. The court heard distressing facts of Fankomo's predatory activity, which targeted young girls by abusing their innocence and trust. It was said that on April 29, 2009, Fankomo enticed a nine-year-old girl in Hazyview, forcing her into the bushes and raping her as she walked to her uncle's home. On October 27, 2021, the accused tricked an eight-year-old child in Masoyi by pretending that her mother had instructed him to accompany her (victim) to buy a chicken, only to bring the victim into a secluded spot and rape her. In November 2021, Fankomo approached a nine-year-old girl in a Calcutta market, pretending to require money from his children, attacked her in a remote location, and subsequently raped her. "In March 2022, he raped an 11-year-old girl in Calcutta, forcing her and her younger siblings into an unfinished house, where he held them hostage while committing these atrocities against the minor girl. "All cases were opened and diligently probed by the specialized members from Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. These astute members worked tirelessly to bring Fankomo to justice. His past criminal behaviour includes a previous rapeconviction in June 2010, for which he received 18 years' sentence but was released on parole in April 2019," Mdhluli said. [email protected] IOL News
News24
25-04-2025
- News24
Four life sentences handed down to convicted serial rapist in Mpumalanga
Gilbert Sibusiso Fankomo received four life sentences after admitting to the rape of four minors, aged 8 to 13, between 2009 and 2022 in Mpumalanga. The man was linked to the crimes through DNA. Fankomo has a previous rape conviction dating back to June 2010. A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to four life terms behind bars for the rape of four girls in Nsikazi and Bushbuckridge between April 2009 and March 2022. The sentence was imposed in the Mpumalanga High Court on Thursday after the man, Gilbert Sibusiso Fankomo, pleaded guilty to all four charges. The court heard that Fankomo targeted vulnerable young girls aged 8 to 13 and lured them to secluded areas under false pretences before assaulting them. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said a 9-year-old victim was walking in a street in Shabalala Trust in Hazyview when she came across the man, who asked her to call for a teacher at a nearby school. "As they were walking towards the school, the accused grabbed the victim into the bushes and raped her before fleeing the scene," Nyuswa added. On 27 October 2021, the man deceived an 8-year-old child in Masoyi by claiming her mother had sent him to accompany her (the victim) to buy a chicken. He lured her to a secluded area where he raped her. In November 2021, Fankomo approached a 9-year-old girl at the market in Calcutta, and pretended that he needed cash. He assaulted her in an isolated spot and raped March 2022, he raped an 11-year-old girl in Calcutta after he forced her and her younger siblings into an unfinished house. The man was linked to the crimes through DNA and was arrested and charged. During sentencing, victim impact statements compiled by parents of the victims and facilitated by court preparation officer Nomfundo Mokoena, further highlighted the emotional and psychological devastation left in the wake of Fankomo's actions. "Since the incident, my child has been suffering from anger issues, nightmares, and flashbacks," one parent said. Fankomo's name will be permanently lodged in the National Register for Sexual Offenders, and he was declared unfit to work with children and unsuitable to possess a firearm. Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said Fankomo had a previous rape conviction from June 2010, for which he received an 18-year sentence. He was released on parole in April 2019. "All cases were opened and diligently probed by the specialised members from Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. These astute members worked tirelessly to bring Fankomo to justice," he added. #sapsMP The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the #SAPS in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi welcomes the harsh sentencing meted out against a serial rapist, Gilbert Sibusiso Fankomo (39), a resident of Numbi Trust in Masoyi. Fankomo has been sentenced to 4 LIFE terms… — SA Police Service ???? (@SAPoliceService) April 24, 2025 Nyuswa said: "This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the criminal justice system addresses sexual violence. Such crimes not only violate the dignity and privacy of the victims, as enshrined in the Constitution, but also erode societal trust."
