FREE STATE – The Hennenman Regional Court has sentenced Katleho Kganare (40) to a total of 46 years’ imprisonment for a series of violent crimes, including rape, attempted murder and the assault of an infant.
Kganare’s crimes span multiple incidents between 2022 and 2025, demonstrating a pattern of gender-based violence and domestic abuse.
In February 2025, Kganare forced his way into the home of his ex-girlfriend’s current partner. Armed with a knife, he threatened to kill the couple before stabbing his ex-girlfriend multiple times. He forced the victims to perform sexual acts at knifepoint, raped his ex-girlfriend in front of her partner, and video-called his friends to broadcast the assault. He distributed images and videos of the attack online without their consent.
Linked to older cases
Further investigations linked Kganare to multiple older cases. In 2023, he punched his then-girlfriend in the face while she was holding their 11-month-old baby. He then turned on the infant, causing severe facial injuries and swelling, later telling the police that he “wished the child could die”.
He held an Okapi knife to his one-year-old child’s throat
In November 2022, he held an Okapi knife to his one-year-old child’s throat to prevent the mother from leaving him. Police intervened and rescued the child. In a separate 2022 incident at a restaurant in Ventersburg, Kganare stabbed his girlfriend and a friend with a broken bottle during an altercation.
The accused pleaded guilty to all counts. The court sentenced him as follows: housebreaking with intent to murder and attempted murder – 15 years; attempt to commit a sexual offence – seven years (three years suspended for five years); sexual intimidation – three years; rape – 10 years; harmful disclosure of pornography – three years; assault – five years (three years suspended for five years); assault – three years (wholly suspended for five years).
Sentencing
The court ordered several sentences to run concurrently. Kganare will serve an effective 20 years of direct imprisonment.
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The investigation was conducted by Warrant Officer Mia Engelbrecht from Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit and Warrant Officer Xolani Madalane from Hennenman Detective, working with the National Prosecuting Authority prosecutor Ms Labuschagne.
Free State Deputy Provincial Commissioner Crime Detection, Major General Apaphia Modise, said the prosecution sends a message that police and the judiciary will show zero tolerance toward perpetrators of gender-based violence and crimes against vulnerable children.
