Makhanda: The acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, has expressed approval for the substantial sentence handed down to a serial rapist by the Makhanda High Court. The sentence was delivered on Friday, 30 May 2025, marking a significant moment in the fight against sexual violence in the region.
According to South African Police Service, Major General Kupiso highlighted the importance of the sentence in restoring faith in the justice system among the victims and the broader community. She praised the investigation team, noting the case as an example of exceptional investigative skills and meticulous crime scene management that were instrumental in securing justice for the three victims from Port Alfred.
The convicted individual, Nkosikhona Sandi, aged 28, dubbed the ‘Nemato Serial Rapist,’ showed no remorse as he received an extended sentence for his crimes. Already serving a 30-year term for previous offenses, Sandi was found guilty of multiple attacks carried out between May 2016 and January 2019. The court utilized both oral testimonies and forensic evidence to confirm his culpability.
Sandi’s criminal activities, alongside an accomplice, involved targeting young women in their early twenties on the streets at night. Armed with knives, they robbed the victims before forcing them into nearby bushes to commit the assaults.
During the recent sentencing on 30 May 2025, Sandi received additional penalties:
1. Count 1 (Rape) – Life imprisonment
2. Count 2 (Robbery with aggravating circumstances) – 15 years’ imprisonment
3. Count 3 (Rape) – 10 years’ imprisonment
4. Count 4 (Rape) – Life imprisonment
All sentences are set to run concurrently, and Sandi has been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Major General Kupiso extended her commendations to Constable Sandra Catherine of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Port Alfred. She acknowledged Constable Catherine’s thorough dedication and high work ethic, which played a crucial role in securing the sentences.