A landmark sentence at the East London High Court was handed down to 34-year-old Lwando Phike of Auckland Location, Dutywa, after he was convicted on multiple counts of rape, robbery and related charges.
Phike was sentenced to five life terms plus 95 years’ imprisonment, bringing closure to a series of brutal attacks that spanned several years.
According to a police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, the sentencing followed years of meticulous investigative work led by Warrant Officer Lulama Luhadi of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit at the SAPS Provincial Office.
Phike was linked to at least eight cases of rape and robbery committed between 2017 and 2022 in Kidd’s Beach, Duncan Village, and Cambridge.
He allegedly threatened his victims, aged between 14 and 24, with a knife, robbed them of their belongings and then raped them in secluded areas.
Mawisa added that his first case was withdrawn due to witness challenges; however, DNA evidence preserved from that matter later became crucial in linking him to subsequent crimes.
“Buccal samples taken during his initial arrest were stored in the forensic database and positively connected him to seven additional cases.”
She also added that tracking down the suspect was challenging as his whereabouts were unknown.
Through persistent tracing and circulation of his details, he was eventually located whilst in custody at East London Police Station on unrelated charges in May 2023.
He was immediately rearrested by Warrant Officer Luhadi for the series of rape cases. He has been remanded behind bars since, later abandoning his bail application.
On 25 September 2025, he was sentenced to five life terms and 95 years’ imprisonment for rape, attempted rape and robbery by the East London High Court.
