The Botshabelo Regional Court on Friday, 8 May 2026, sentenced 27-year-old Sibusiso Mbuli to two life terms imprisonment plus an additional 18 years for robbery.
The Selosesha SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) investigated two cases of robbery and rape that shared the same modus operandi.
According to court findings, Mbuli lured female victims through social media platforms by promising them employment. Two victims, aged 21 and 22, were deceived into meeting him at a local filling station in Botshabelo under the false pretence of job opportunities. The accused then robbed them of their cellphones and cash before raping them.
The two incidents were reported in July 2023 and September 2023.
Detective Sergeant Kamogelo Kwatala of the Selosesha FCS Unit, along with other police members, traced Mbuli to his residential address in Botshabelo in October 2023.
One of the victims positively identified Mbuli, and his DNA samples also linked him to both rape cases.
The court sentenced Mbuli to two life terms for two counts of rape, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a further three years for robbery. Mbuli has been held in custody since his arrest in 2023.