By Staff Reporter
NZHELELE-A 23-year-old man from Makatu Village in Nzhelele has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl in 2019, the South African Police Service in Limpopo confirmed.
Mukhethwa Masindi was handed the sentence by the Dzanani Regional Court after being found guilty earlier in the week.
According to police, the incident occurred on 23 November 2019 when the teenager was walking home past a soccer field with a friend. Masindi approached and dragged her into nearby bushes, causing the friend to run for help.
The girl later reported the incident to her sister, who alerted Siloam police.The accused was arrested the following day on 24 November 2019. The case was transferred to Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.
The case was transferred to the Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, where it was assigned to Sergeant Phumudzo Nemafhohoni.
Although the case was initially removed from the roll pending DNA results, it was reinstated after positive forensic evidence linked Masindi to the crime, resulting in his re-arrest.
Masindi was convicted on 17 November 2025. In addition to the life sentence, the court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial has applauded the arresting officers and the Investigator, Sergeant Phumodzo Nemafhohoni for conducting a thorough investigation which led to this heavy sentence against this rapist.
“This sentence demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring that offenders face the full might of the law,” she said.
