Phillip Nkuna sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl in Babanana village, Tzaneen

On Monday 31 March 2025, a 33-year-old male accused, Phillip Nkuna Ngomane was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ritavi Magistrate court in connection with a rape of a 15 year-old female victim.

It is reported that on 03 October 2016 at about 09:00, the victim was walking to her residence when she met the accused at Babanana village, Letsitele, Tzaneen. Phillip produced a firearm and dragged the victim to the nearby bushes. The victim was unexpectedly raped three times by the suspect who later fled the scene on foot.

The victim went home to inform her family about the rape incident and it was immediately reported to the local police.

A rape case was opened at the police station and later transferred to Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) for further investigations. Sergeant Sharon Phumudzo Mabongo was tasked to handle the matter and through her sterling detective abilities, she managed to arrest the accused on 26 July 2017.

The accused was reportedly appearing at Ritavi Magistrate court in connection with another rape case involving a 19-year-old female victim at the time of his arrest after he was positively linked through a Forensic DNA analysis.

Phillip made numerous court appearances and was later granted R2500.00 bail on 25 July 2023 until he was found guilty on 21 January 2025 and sentenced to life term imprisonment by the court on Monday 31 March 2025.