South African Serial Rapist Sentenced to 42 Life Sentences 

The 40-year-old predator, whose horrific attacks spanned nearly a decade from 2012 to 2021, targeted children as young as nine in and around Ekurhuleni, just east of Johannesburg.

By Lisa Nyambura

Nkosinathi Phakathi, a South African serial rapist convicted of 90 counts of rape, has been sentenced to 42 life terms for his crimes, including rape, kidnapping, and assault. 

The 40-year-old predator, whose horrific attacks spanned nearly a decade from 2012 to 2021, targeted children as young as nine in and around Ekurhuleni, just east of Johannesburg.

Phakathi’s crimes were marked by extreme brutality, with some victims forced to witness or participate in the assaults. 

He preyed on schoolchildren and young women, often attacking them while they traveled to or from school and work. 

In some cases, Phakathi deceived victims by posing as an electrician to gain access to their homes.

The Johannesburg High Court handed down the sentence on Friday, with the judge agreeing that Phakathi showed “no remorse and was beyond rehabilitation,” according to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Phakathi, who lost a leg after being shot by police during his 2021 arrest, attended the sentencing in crutches. 

South Africa continues to grapple with alarmingly high rates of violent crime, with recent data showing over 9,300 rapes reported between April and June this year, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year.