The Gqeberha Regional Court on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, sentenced 42-year-old Thulani Kondile to four life terms imprisonment for rape and an additional five years for kidnapping. At the time of sentencing, Kondile was already serving a life sentence for a previous rape conviction.
The case originated from an incident in August 2019, when a 19-year-old victim was kidnapped and raped. According to police reports, the victim boarded a taxi driven by Kondile from a shopping mall in Kwadwesi to purchase electricity. After dropping off other passengers, the driver deviated from the route, took the victim to bushes near St George’s Beach, and repeatedly raped her.
The suspect was initially unknown. Sergeant Kelibone Mokhatla of the Motherwell Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit identified, traced, and arrested Kondile in Peddie in March 2021. Bail was successfully opposed, and he remained in custody until the case was finalised. Further investigations linked Kondile to additional rape cases.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, welcomed the conviction and sentencing. He commended Sergeant Mokhatla for her persistence, professionalism, and dedication, stating that her meticulous investigation and unwavering resolve played a critical role in securing the conviction and removing a dangerous offender from society. Ncata reaffirmed that the South African Police Service remains committed to combating gender-based violence and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.