HARDENED CRIMINAL SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN PRISON

The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Middelburg has sentenced 37-year-old Lucky Thokozane Nkosi to 32 years imprisonment. This follows his conviction on 22 January 2025 for rape, kidnapping, murder, and defeating the ends of justice.

According to information, on 01 October 2023, at around 01h00 am. A 15-year-old victim was at a tavern in Leslie when the accused ambushed her in the restroom and forcefully raped her. He then kidnapped her, taking her to his residence in Leslie, where he further raped her repeatedly throughout the night. The following morning, at around 09h00 am, the victim was released.

The victim reported the matter to Leslie SAPS, and a case with a count of rape and kidnapping was registered.The victim was able to identify the accused.

On 26 December 2023, the accused was seen at another victim’s residence in Extension 9, Leslie. The two later left together. Concerned family members reported the victim missing to the Police on 27 December 2023 after failing to contact her. The victim’s child confirmed seeing the accused leaving with her mother.

Later that day, a passersby discovered the victim’s body at a bridge in Leslie. The Police were notified and the body was later identified as that of the missing victim.

The post-mortem report revealed the cause of death as ligature strangulation and multiple blunt force injuries.

The Police investigation led officers to the accused’s residence, where bloodstains were found on the mattress. The skilled detectives gathered crucial information at the crime scene as part of their effort of building a strong case against the accused.

The matter was investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and they worked tirelessly to ensure that justice is served for the two victims.

On 04 January 2024, the accused was arrested for murder and defeating the ends of justice.

Subsequently, the state managed to present strong evidence against the accused and he was found to have been involved in the rape and kidnapping of the first victim, resulting in additional charges being filed on 27 May 2024.

Further investigation by the astute members revealed that the accused had been previously convicted in 2014 and was sentenced then to 10 years imprisonment for rape and attempted murder.

On 22 January 2025, the accused pleaded guilty to all charges. The court sentenced him as follows:

• Count 1: Rape – 25 years imprisonment

• Count 2: Kidnapping – 5 years imprisonment

• Count 3: Murder – 20 years imprisonment

• Count 4: Defeating the ends of justice – 3 years imprisonment

The court ordered that the sentence for Count 2 to run concurrently with thst of Count 1. The sentence on Count 3 to run concurrently with Count 4. Additionally, 13 years of the sentence for Count 1 will run concurrently with the sentence for Count 3, resulting in an effective term of 32 years imprisonment.

The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the investigation team for their dedication and thorough work that ensured the accused’s conviction. “Such individuals must be removed from society to protect communities. This was his second time committing similar crimes, showing that he did not learn from his previous conviction. I applaud the efforts of our members in ensuring that justice is served for the victims, ” said the General.