A serial rapist convicted of luring unsuspecting women into a taxi to be kidnapped and raped has been sentenced to four life terms.
Thembelani Mrwetyana (26), a taxi conductor, was sentenced in the Gqeberha High Court last week.
The court handed down two life terms for rape, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and six years for kidnapping.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the sentences relate to two separate incidents in which Mrwetyana, together with a co-perpetrator, used a taxi to lure unsuspecting women.
In the first incident, on the morning of 8 October 2021, a woman was strangled and raped after the taxi driver and conductor refused to stop for her to disembark.
“The driver threatened her with a sharp object while Mrwetyana held her down,” Tyali explained. “They drove to a remote location where the driver retrieved condoms from the dashboard.
“Despite the complainant’s desperate pleas not to be harmed, the driver sliced her clothing with a knife and raped her.
A month later, on 27 November 2021, the second complainant was on her way to work when she boarded a taxi in the rain.
“Mrwetyana and the driver were the only other occupants. Instead of heading to her destination, the driver took the freeway,” Tyali explained. “Mrwetyana jumped into the back seat, blindfolded her, and they both raped her.”
He was linked to the two rapes committed in 2021 through DNA samples obtained during the investigation in 2022.
The State, represented by Senior State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein, and the defence entered into a plea and sentence agreement.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence.
“The use of DNA evidence in linking Mrwetyana to these horrific offences demonstrates the critical role forensic science continues to play in solving crimes and securing convictions,” said Madolo.
