Serial Rapist Sentenced To 4 Life Jail Terms

Gilbert Sibusiso Fankomo, a 39-year-old serial rapist, has been handed four life sentences for brutally raping multiple teenagers in Mpumalanga.

The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela delivered the sentence on the serial rapist, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, after convicting Fankomo on multiple counts of rape involving vulnerable teenage victims.

The serial rapist offences spanned from April 2009 to March 2022, with Fankomo targeting young girls by abusing their innocence and trust.

Fankomo’s predatory activity included enticing a nine-year-old girl in Hazyview to the bushes, where he raped her, and tricking an eight-year-old child in Masoyi into accompanying him to buy a chicken, only to rape her in a secluded spot.

 The serial rapist also approached a nine-year-old girl in a Calcutta market, pretending to require money, and subsequently raped her.

In another instance, Fankomo raped an 11-year-old girl in Calcutta, holding her and her younger siblings hostage in an unfinished house.

 Fankomo had a previous rape conviction in June 2010 and was released on parole in April 2019.

Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial police commissioner in Mpumalanga, welcomed the sentence, stating that it sends a clear message that the justice system is committed to addressing sexual offences, particularly against minors.

Mkhwanazi said, “we hope this sentence will deter others from committing similar heinous acts. Police remain resolute in their mission to protect the most vulnerable in our society, and this case serves as a testament to our commitment.”

The investigation team, prosecution team, and judiciary were commended for their diligent work in bringing Fankomo to justice.

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