GQEBERHA – The South African Police Service welcomes the conviction and sentencing of 30-year-old Olwethu Kommani, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Motherwell Regional Court on Monday, 2 November 2026 for the brutal rape, kidnapping, robbery and assault of a young woman in Motherwell.
The incident occurred during the early hours of 20 June 2021 when two women were walking in NU13, Motherwell. They were approached by an unknown male who assaulted them and robbed them of a jacket and a wig. The suspect then kidnapped one of the victims and forced her to accompany him.
The accused took the victim to a field in NU11 where he raped her before moving her to another field in NU13 where he raped her for the second time. He then transported the victim from NU13 to NU48 and subsequently, by taxi, to his residence in Veeplaas. There, he held her captive overnight and raped her for the third time.
The victim managed to escape the following morning and immediately reported the incident to police. The case was assigned to Detective Sergeant Mtongana of the Motherwell Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
Through meticulous investigation, the professional handling of the victim, the gathering of crucial forensic evidence, and the successful linkage of the suspect to the crimes, Detective Sergeant Nomakhaya Mtongana ensured that a watertight case was presented before court. Her dedication and commitment to justice played a pivotal role in securing the successful conviction and sentence.
Kommani was found guilty on three counts of rape, one count of common robbery, two counts of assault common, and one count of kidnapping.
In sentencing, the Motherwell Regional Court imposed:
- Life imprisonment for counts 1, 2 and 3 (rape), taken together for sentencing.
- Three years’ imprisonment for robbery.
- Twelve months’ imprisonment for assault common (count 5).
- Twelve months’ imprisonment for assault common (count 6).
- Four years’ imprisonment for kidnapping.
The court ordered that the sentences for robbery, assault and kidnapping run concurrently with the life imprisonment sentence.
The Acting District Commissioner for Nelson Mandela Bay District Brig Loyiso Ngalo commended Detective Sergeant Mtongana and all role players involved in the investigation and prosecution of the matter.
“This sentence sends a strong message that crimes of gender-based violence will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators who prey on vulnerable victims will be brought to justice. We commend the victim for her courage and resilience throughout the judicial process and acknowledge the outstanding work of the investigating officer in ensuring that justice prevailed.”
