Gauteng High Court: Victor Mokoena Sentenced to Four Life Imprisonments

• Victor Mokoena was sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment for raping four young women.
• The victims were lured through social media with promises of modelling, promotional, and photoshoot opportunities.
• Mokoena's crimes spanned over two years, targeting young women in and around Johannesburg.
• He used different names when communicating with his victims and deleted conversations and contact details from their cellphones to conceal his identity.

The NPA welcomes the substantial sentences imposed by the court and commends the investigating officers and prosecution team for their diligent efforts in linking the various cases and ensuring Mokoena was held accountable for his crimes.

A Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced Victor Mokoena, a 26-year-old man, to four terms of life imprisonment for raping four young women. The victims were lured through social media with promises of modelling, promotional, and photoshoot opportunities. This case bears striking similarities to the Thabo Bester Facebook rapist saga, where the convicted rapist and murderer used social media to deceive women and establish relationships with victims.

Mokoena's crimes spanned over two years, from March 2021 to October 2024, targeting young women in and around Johannesburg. He presented himself as a photographer or promoter on Facebook and Instagram, using different names when communicating with his victims. Once the victims arrived at the agreed locations, Mokoena took them to secluded areas, where he raped and assaulted them.

The investigation linked several cases through similarities in Mokoena's modus operandi and digital evidence obtained from the victims. Investigators established that he had used different names when communicating with his victims. Further investigation by Sergeant Nedombeloni ultimately linked the various cases to Mokoena.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentencing of Victor Mokoena, stating that it demonstrates their commitment to pursuing perpetrators of sexual offences and ensuring victims of gender-based violence receive justice. The NPA notes that Mokoena was convicted of four counts of rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and pointing of an object resembling a firearm.

The sentences imposed on the remaining counts will run concurrently with the life sentences. Mokoena was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, two years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one year for pointing an object resembling a firearm.

The case highlights the dangers of responding to unsolicited offers or opportunities on social media without verifying individuals' identities. The NPA urges members of the public, particularly young people, to exercise caution when engaging with strangers online and to verify their identities before meeting them in person.

This warning is timely, given the increasing number of cases where perpetrators use social media to deceive and exploit victims. The sentencing of Victor Mokoena serves as a reminder that the law will hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes, and that victims of gender-based violence deserve justice.

Lawyers should advise clients to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited offers or opportunities on social media, verifying individuals' identities before meeting them in person.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]