Serial Offender Sentenced to Double Life Plus 150 Years for Zwelitsha Crimes

BHISHO – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the significant prison sentence handed down to Cebisile Sibusiso Mfopu, 42, by the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court. Mfopu was sentenced to two life terms and an additional 150 years of imprisonment for a series of violent crimes committed in Zwelitsha and surrounding areas.

Mfopu pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including multiple counts of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, housebreaking with intent to rob, and kidnapping. His criminal activities spanned several years, beginning in 2016 and continuing through late 2020.

A Trail of Violence

The court heard a harrowing account of Mfopu’s crimes, which frequently involved late-night home invasions. In September 2016, Mfopu and an accomplice broke into a residence where they robbed the occupants and raped a 34-year-old woman. In another incident in May 2017, Mfopu threatened residents with a knife, stealing various household items and raping a 17-year-old girl.

The violence escalated in 2020. In October of that year, Mfopu and two accomplices restrained a family with electric cables during a robbery, during which a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped. In November 2020, he admitted to abducting a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint and knife-point, who was then taken to a secluded area and repeatedly raped.

Forensic Breakthrough

For years, the perpetrator remained unidentified as victims were unable to see their assailants clearly during the attacks. The breakthrough in the case came following Mfopu’s arrest on an unrelated matter. A buccal sample was taken for DNA profiling, which provided a conclusive match to the forensic evidence collected at the various Zwelitsha crime scenes.

State Prosecutor, Advocate Nocwaka Blorweni-Tokota, argued that Mfopu was a danger to society and unsuitable for rehabilitation, noting a criminal record dating back to 2000. The prosecution maintained that his guilty plea was a result of the overwhelming evidence against him rather than genuine remorse.

High Court Ruling

In delivering the sentence, the High Court emphasized the severity of gender-based violence in South Africa and found no compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences.

The final sentencing breakdown includes:

• Two life sentences for rape.

• 120 years for robbery and additional rape charges.

• 30 years for housebreaking.

The court further ordered that Mfopu’s details be recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children.

The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the investigative work of Sergeant Anele Ngcanga and the support provided by Court Preparation Officer Sandisiwe Moyake. Madolo reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable and ensuring justice for survivors of gender-based violence.