Pretoria: The South African Police Service (SAPS) is intensifying interventions to combat and prevent gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the country. As part of a 90-day blitz to address these issues, SAPS has conducted investigations and numerous tracing operations, resulting in the arrest of 100 rape suspects and 16 suspects for attempted rape in the past week alone. Most of these arrests took place in Gauteng.
According to South African Government News Agency, police arrested 67 wanted rape suspects across various provinces, demonstrating SAPS's commitment to addressing GBVF. The organization continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of these cases, aiming to secure lengthy prison sentences for convicted perpetrators.
Recently, the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit members have achieved notable convictions in courts nationwide. On June 24, 2025, the Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for multiple counts of rape of a minor dating back to October 2023. In another case, the Sasolburg Magistrates' Court sentenced Tumelo Christian Khotha, aged 30, to 26 years in prison for the rape and assault of a 17-year-old girl in March 2022.
Additionally, police secured life sentences for a 48-year-old grandfather and a 45-year-old uncle involved in isolated cases of rape and sexual abuse. The Mtubatuba Regional Court found the grandfather guilty on June 11, 2025, for raping his grandchild since 2020 at her home in Dukuduku. In another judgment, the court found an uncle guilty of sexually abusing his niece, a minor, at Ezibayeni.
Furthermore, the Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced 29-year-old Chef Andre Meyer to three years in prison with a five-year suspended sentence for creating pornography. Meyer was found guilty of photographing a 12-year-old boy in a compromising situation at school.
'The SAPS remains dedicated to protecting children's rights and ensuring justice for victims of sexual crimes, especially women, children, and people living with disabilities,' the police stated.