Female detective’s tenacity brings decade-long rapist to justice

A decade-long investigation by Sergeant Sharlot Luphondo-Mkansi of the Phalaborwa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit has brought justice to two women attacked in separate rape cases more than a decade apart.

The Lenyenye Regional Court sentenced 48-year-old Glen Mohale Sekgwela from Namakgale Zone D to two life terms for crimes committed in 2010 in Maake and 2014 in Namakgale. The convictions follow meticulous investigative work, led by Sergeant Luphondo-Mkansi, that linked Sekgwela to both incidents through DNA evidence.

The first attack occurred on 8 January 2010, when a 33-year-old woman walking alone near Balloon Village in Maake was followed, dragged into bushes, and raped. The second took place on 11 March 2014 near a local tavern in Topville, Namakgale, where a 34-year-old woman was assaulted after rejecting Sekgwela’s advances.

The accused was arrested following the forensic investigation and prosecuted successfully, culminating in life sentences for both counts on 31 October 2025. Sekgwela has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers commended the FCS Unit’s dedication: “This conviction demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence face the full might of the law. We applaud the investigating officer and all members involved for their dedication.”

Sergeant Luphondo-Mkansi’s work highlights the critical role of specialised detectives in tackling gender-based violence and delivering long-awaited justice to survivors. Police urge anyone affected by sexual offences to report crimes, reaffirming that units across Limpopo remain focused on protecting vulnerable communities.